CRUCH Research Committee elects new board and establishes main lines of work for 2020-2022

The new president of the Research Commission of the Council of Rectors, the Vice-Rector of Research and Development of the University of Concepción, Andrea Rodríguez Tastets, referred to the main lines of work for the period 2020-2022.

Meanwhile, the former president of the commission, Adrián Palacios, gave a positive assessment of the work done to date, highlighting that "in recent years the work of the commission has intensified, due to the new scenario of our Science and Technology system.".

“As a board, we desire interaction with all actors in the country's science and technology system, promoting reflection and a proactive attitude towards the challenges of maintaining and improving the country's scientific capabilities and productivity, in a competitive and complex financing scenario,” said the new president of the Research Commission of the Council of Rectors, Andrea Rodríguez Tastets, Vice-Rector of Research and Development at the University of Concepción.

The commission, which defined its nine-member board for the 2020-2022 term on November 9, elected Rodríguez as president, Pedro Bouchon, Vice-Rector of Research at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, as vice-president, and Flavio Salazar, Vice-Rector of Research and Development at the University of Chile, as secretary. The following directors were also elected: María José Galotto, from the University of Santiago, Chile; Hugo Salinas, from the University of Atacama; Eduardo Notte, from the University of La Serena; Mónica Tapia, from the Catholic University of the Holy Conception; Sandra Ríos, from the University of Los Lagos; and Andrés Mansilla, from the University of Magallanes.

The outgoing president of the commission, Adrián Palacios, Vice-Rector of Research and Innovation at the University of Valparaíso, reviewed the commission's work, highlighting that "in recent years the commission's work has intensified due to the new landscape of our Science and Technology system." He added that "the creation of the Ministry of Science and the restructuring of ANID (National Research and Development Agency), along with posing a considerable number of new challenges, have included universities as stakeholders in various forums. While much remains to be done, what we want is not always matched by what we can achieve, and as universities, we maintain a critical, yet constructive, perspective on the challenges we face. It is clear that the national Science and Technology system must be built collectively.".

On the other hand, Palacios pointed out that the CRUCH Research Commission has demonstrated its active commitment, “making ourselves available through the delivery of minutes and recommendations, which we have presented in all possible forums. For example, in the science and technology committees of the Chamber of Deputies, the Future Commission of the Senate, the Ministry of Science, the National Accreditation Commission (CNA), the National Education Council (CNED), among others, on key issues for the country such as the future Transfer Law, the Centers of Excellence Plan, the budget for science and technology, in addition to participating in numerous working groups on critical issues.”.

Finally, Adrián Palacios praised the work of the commission, which brings together vice-rectors of research from the 30 universities of the CRUCH (Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities). “As a former president, I can attest that we have established a professional and collaborative commission, sharing relevant information and best practices, which has been reflected in the criteria for electing our new Board of Directors, prioritizing gender representation, regional diversity, and leadership.”.

Main lines of work for 2020-2022

According to the new president of the commission, Andrea Rodríguez, “the renewal of the board comes to continue the excellent work done by Adrián Palacios in the sense of positioning the commission of vice-rectors of research as a valid and relevant interlocutor in the new institutional framework of science and technology in the country.”.

Regarding the main work guidelines for the 2020-2022 management period, Rodríguez stated that they will focus on “maintaining and strengthening our interaction with the actors of the system, which not only involves the Ministry of Science and ANID, but also the Postgraduate Commission and the National Accreditation Commission, the Senate Research Commission, the CNID (National Council of Innovation for Development), and public and private organizations oriented to the development of R&D and its relationship with universities " .

On the other hand, the new president indicated that operational and strategic aspects will be addressed. “At a more operational level, and in relation to current funding instruments, we seek to contribute to aspects such as evaluation models and transparency in competitions, analysis of job insecurity in research, gender and territorial equity, centers of excellence and their relationship with universities, advanced training policy, among others.».