In a complex context for the university system, the Science, Technology and Innovation for Development Area of the UNR maintained and expanded its research, innovation and linkage policies, consolidating a management model oriented towards the production of knowledge with social impact and the strengthening of the public university.
In 2025, the Science, Technology and Innovation Area for Development Universidad Nacional de Rosario He carried out an intense agenda of actions aimed at strengthening research, promoting ties with society, and consolidating a new paradigm in university management.
“In this year, which must have been one of the most difficult for the University, we generated and carried out many actions (some as a continuation and many others new) that, in my opinion, were the result of this University's commitment to its mission. We organized, streamlined, and innovated,” highlighted the Area Secretary, Elena Gasparri.
He also explained that the policies developed are part of a management approach that promotes a change of focus: "Moving from managing the production of science and technology to generating and managing it."
Among the key actions undertaken were the consolidation of two years of research grants and the second Call for Applied Research Projects, “University and Sustainable Development,” aimed at organizing the UNR's scientific output in an interdisciplinary manner to address social problems, in conjunction with the Ministry of Productive Development of the Province of Santa Fe. Scholarships were also implemented for young researchers, both to attend national conferences and through the “Innovation for Sustainable Development” University Scholarships, which support undergraduate theses in the areas of Production and Environment.
In addition, the University's 19th Science, Technology, and Innovation Conference took place at the Faculty of Law, where over 300 scientific posters produced by the researchers themselves were presented. “We aim to maintain and expand our efforts to continue fostering spaces for encounter and dialogue among the researchers at our University. This conference was a success, with over 335 papers presented by members of our community. Having everything digitized allows anyone to access the information and contact the authors of the various research projects at the University,” explained Gasparri.
This event creates a tangible record of the scientific output of the UNR (National University of Rosario), and for several editions now, it has served as a bridge between the research produced in the field and society as a whole. “Every year we try to add something new to deepen this work. The conference website is a very quiet effort, but it allows us to have a repository of six years' worth of the University's scientific output, which can not only be consulted, but also allows directors to interact with researchers from all over the world. This year we incorporated inclusion as a main focus, a project that required a great deal of effort and significant preparation. I want to thank the researchers because they had to learn how to make their posters accessible, which is no small feat, and that also speaks to a committed community.”
Another important initiative was the second UNR Experience Call for Proposals, designed to fund and support the production of technological prototypes based on Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality. This pioneering initiative within the university setting promotes innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with various stakeholders in the region.
Following the same line of promoting innovation, the Incubator for Entrepreneurship based on Cultural Industries was created, which included the “GameLabUNR” call for proposals for video game development, and the Inclusive Linkage Call for Proposals was reopened. “These initiatives were supported with UNR's own resources and contributions from faculties with experience in selling services to third parties, such as Biochemistry, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences,” Gasparri pointed out.
Throughout the year, the Area also supported the University's teams in Emprende U, where one of them won, participated in the Business Plan Competition alongside the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, promoted training in intellectual property, trademark registration, and copyright, and developed, together with Criar, the Women Entrepreneurs Training Program. In addition, three diploma programs were created: two from the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and SMEs (training for managers and middle management in the industry) and one from the Bio-Based Incubator (aimed at researchers and doctoral students in Biochemistry and Agricultural Sciences).
Among the year's milestones, Gasparri highlighted the completion of the Equipar Ciencia projects, which had been left pending with the change of national government, and the progress in the Construir Ciencia project, which will allow the completion of the building adjacent to the one currently occupied by the Science Area of the UNR in Riobamba and Berutti, and which will be destined for the future Biotechnology Projects Incubator.
During 2025, proposals for science outreach and public participation were also included. “In July, the University Cultural Center hosted the project Making the invisible visible, Dedicated to children, this program focuses on providing an immersive experience with science, art, and technology. Furthermore, in collaboration with the Municipal Astronomical Complex, the city's first science-themed escape room was designed, and the publishing project continued. Account Science and the first Science and Play meeting was held, aimed at creating playful strategies for teaching and communicating science.”
In terms of regulations, the new Technological Linkage Ordinance was approved, and a new system for managing agreements and work orders will be presented soon. Furthermore, the third Call for Applied Research Projects, “University and Sustainable Development,” and a new Research Projects Ordinance, which incorporates the arts as part of scientific production, as well as a gender perspective and science communication, in line with the guidelines of the 2030 Agenda, were recently submitted to the Higher Council for its consideration.
In addition, in May 2026, UNR will host the International Congress on Science Communication, which will include a workshop for local researchers.
“This year we took to the streets and protested every attack, but above all, we believe this is our way of defending the Public University,” Gasparri concluded, thanking the deans, secretaries, and Rector Franco Bartolacci for their support, “for always backing us in all our proposals and giving us space to continue growing.”
Journalist: Gonzalo J. García / Photography: Camila Casero – Karen Roeschlin