In order to consolidate research and innovation as a central driver of national and international growth, the Office of the Vice Rector for Research announced the guidelines of its new institutional research and funding application policy, effective this year.
The Office of the Vice Rector for Research has announced the implementation of a new Research and Innovation Policy 2025, along with the update of the Public and Private Funds Application Guidelines.The objective is to strengthen research as a central pillar of the academic work and Universad de los Andes's contribution to society.
Both lines of work seek to consolidate a transparent and results-oriented research ecosystem within Universidad de los Andes, as well as to promote high-impact projects in a national context marked by reductions in public funding and growing competition for external funds.
A Strategic Framework That Strengthens Quality and Impact
The new policy presented by the Office of the Vice Rector for Research represents a step toward more efficient and evidence-based management.
In the words of Javier Enrione, Vice Rector for Research, these new guidelines aim to become a strategic tool, with objective targets and internationally comparable criteria. This transformation is also directly aligned with the Institutional Strategic Planning (PEI) and with the standards required by the National Accreditation Commission (CNA) and the National Research and Development Agency (ANID).
"This update seeks to strengthen the alignment between basic and applied research and knowledge transfer, build institutional capacity, and clarify the educational role of research. We also believe that it provides clearer criteria that facilitate internal management and access to external project funding, aiming to increase the impact, reach, and contribution of our research to the country's development," Enrione added
This is complemented by the reinforcement of standards of excellence and cross-cutting criteria — such as the pursuit of truth, excellence, service to the country, and social contribution — to which are added criteria such as open science, gender equity, social impact, bidirectionality, and internationalization. These principles will guide both the definition of research priorities and the evaluation of results.
"This update of the Research and Innovation Policy and its guidelines for applying for external funds reinforce a strategic, interdisciplinary, and collaborative approach to the development of research at UANDES," Enrione added.
Another important aspect is the renewal of institutional governance, which will lead to the creation of the Doctoral, Open Science, and Intellectual PropertyCommittees, which will join the Research Council and the Scientific Ethical Committee (CEC)— bodies designed to ensure technical consistency, ethical safeguards, and strategic alignment.
Finally, in addition to the existing research funds (FAI, FAIN, FAIS, Conecta I+D, Inicia tu idea) , new funding lines will be added through the Strengthening Excellence, Initiate Your Center, and R&D Committed to Society funds.
Application Guidelines: An Integrated Model for Competing in a Demanding Environment
Together with the institutional policy, the Office of the Vice Rector for Research updated its Guidelines for Applications to Public and Private Funds, which establish an orderly and transparent framework to promote the securing of external financing.
These new guidelines arise as a response to a national landscape characterized by a decrease in the research budget and limited private investment in R&D, which makes it necessary to diversify funding sources and improve competitiveness in public and private competitions.
Key objectives include increasing and diversifying external funding opportunities; institutionally organizing the formulation and application processes; actively involving Faculty Councils in the definition of targets; promoting academic responsibility in fundraising; and strengthening governance through accountability and ongoing monitoring.
This new framework will apply to all research and innovation projects requiring funding, whether individual, associative, technological contracts, collaborative, or those requiring institutional sponsorship.
The framework also contemplates the coordination of Research and Innovation Offices with the Supply and Finance Departments, and the delivery of reports to the Rector's Council to ensure traceability and transparency.
Together, the new Research Policy and the Guidelines for Funding Applications constitute a framework aimed at increasing the allocation of external resources and strengthening UANDES's contribution to the scientific, technological, and social development of the country.