Within the framework of International Science Week, a new edition of the University and Sustainable Development Call was presented, and certificates were given to the selected projects of the Inclusive Linkage Call.

La Universidad Nacional de Rosario It presented the third edition of the University and Sustainable Development Call, which will be open for the submission of projects until November 30, 2025.

The activity took place within the framework of the International Week of Science, Technology and Art, and its purpose was to review the foundations, conditions and key dates of this new edition aimed at strengthening research applied to sustainable development.

Rector Franco Bartolacci highlighted the work of the science teams throughout the national university system and the commitment that sustains scientific activity “thanks to the efforts of many people working under less than ideal conditions, with limited access to equipment and supplies that often simply don't exist.” In this regard, he emphasized the importance of this week “to demonstrate that science and knowledge production must be a priority in our country.”

Bartolacci also emphasized the institution's commitment to maintaining its calls for proposals and scientific policies despite the economic climate. “We made difficult decisions about what to do and what not to do, because resources aren't enough for everything we need to do. However, we chose to safeguard these initiatives and protect what we've built, because we know it's important,” she noted. She also announced that the UNR is working on transforming its research funding system: “We want to differentiate between accreditation and funding, to recognize the work of all projects, but also to strengthen those that address strategic issues.”

In this edition, the UNR will fund up to six projects, with a maximum amount of 10 million pesos per initiative. Each of the two selected thematic areas will have three funded projects.

The Secretary of the Area of ​​Science, Technology and Innovation for Development, Elena Gasparri, highlighted that this call for proposals “has grown steadily throughout its first two editions” and that the 2025 call “seeks to promote research projects applied to sustainable development, aligned with the 2030 Agenda.”

Gasparri explained that the goal is to promote collaborative work across different disciplines, fostering the development of solutions to complex problems. “We know that social challenges cannot be addressed from a single disciplinary perspective. This proposal invites us to rethink our approaches to science and move towards more comprehensive, collaborative, and transformative practices,” she stated.

The Science, Technology and Innovation for Development Area will support the teams from the formulation to the execution of the projects, promoting the articulation between research groups and actors in the territory, and guaranteeing the technical and operational viability of the proposals.

Thematic areas

In this edition, two priority thematic areas were defined.

The first, “Transition to Sustainable Cities and Industries,” seeks to promote research aimed at reducing environmental impact, encouraging the responsible use of resources, and contributing to the transition to sustainable production and urban models. Proposals related to energy transition and the circular economy, sustainable processes and materials, clean industry and waste valorization, and inclusive and resilient cities will be accepted.

The second, “Technological Innovation for Educational and Cultural Transformation,” focuses on research that applies emerging technologies to transform teaching and learning processes, promote inclusive and quality education, and strengthen the artistic and cultural sphere. Projects will be accepted on immersive environments, artificial intelligence applied to education, active methodologies and gamification, bridging the digital divide, and technologies applied to art, design, and creative industries.

Interdisciplinary teams whose members belong to Academic Units of the UNR or to joint UNR-CONICET Research Units may apply. Those who were beneficiaries of the 2024 call for proposals are not eligible.

The Area Coordinator, Diego Moreno, explained that each project must involve at least three academic units in a coordinated and interdisciplinary manner. He also noted that the first call for proposals (2023) funded five projects, while the second (2024), conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Productive Development of Santa Fe, supported ten. “This year we are pleased to continue this scientific policy with funds entirely from the University's own resources,” he stated.

The call for proposals will be open from November 10 to 30, 2025. A ten-day eligibility review period will then take place, and the results will be published in March 2026. The terms and conditions can be found at unr.edu.ar/convocatoria-universidad-y-desarrollo-sostenible-2025, and inquiries should be sent to proyectos.ciencias@unr.edu.ar

Call for Inclusive Engagement

During the meeting, certificates are also awarded to the Inclusive Linkage Call, whose objective is to promote technological linkage activities of the UNR academic community with territorial agents involved in productive processes, in order to enhance university capacities for problem solving by generating innovative responses and joint work mechanisms that contribute to the sustainable development of the region.

“The projects have already been selected, approved in order of merit by the Higher Council, and the funds have already been transferred to the faculties to get started. It is a great joy to be able to promote this specific call for proposals,” Gasparri emphasized.

This new edition promotes lines of work from UNR research teams that address in an interdisciplinary way topics of relevance to the local and regional socio-productive sector, strengthen the provision of services, promote the generation of strategic alliances, valuing and developing new knowledge. 

Marisol González, Director of Technological Liaison for the Science Area, noted that this call for proposals “is celebrating its tenth edition with a distinctive feature: for the first time, it is being funded entirely by the University.” She added that this achievement “recognizes the collective effort of the institution and its academic units in a process of economic transformation that strengthens technological collaboration.”

“Thanks to that work, 25 projects are currently being funded with a total of 75 million pesos, coming from the university's own revenue. This event aims to recognize that effort and support the teams that have already begun implementing their projects, with the expectation that in the coming months they will contribute to renewing the technological offerings of the UNR,” he added.

Journalist: Gonzalo J. García / Photography: Camila Casero.