ISTEC’s Impact on the
Development of Science and
Technology
Education in Latin America
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Collaborators:
Ramiro Jordán, University of New Mexico, USA
Wilfrido Moreno, University of South Florida, USA
Roberto Murphy, INAOE, México
Dulce García, ISTEC, Miami, USA
Marisa De Giusti, Universidad de la Plata, Argentina
Hundreds of people in Ibero America
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Vision
ISTEC will be a leading force in fostering socioeconomic and educational change in Ibero-America,
by creating prosperity and improving the quality of
life in the region.
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Mission
ISTEC’s mission is to foster sustainable socioeconomic development in Ibero-America by
carrying out programs focused on:
Advancing the state of higher education in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM)
Promoting the culture of quality, innovation and sustainability
Generating and disseminating knowledge and information
Establishing cost-effective vehicles for technology transfer
Encouraging joint international research and development
Fostering an environment for entrepreneurship and collaboration
Promoting leadership models that adhere to the principles of
responsibility and accountability.
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Birth of an Idea
June 1990
University of New Mexico Electrical and Computer
Engineering Department (ECE-UNM)
Proposal:
Use Science and Technology (S&T) as a
catalyst for social, cultural, political and
economic development
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Explored
Opportunities
Explored
Opportunities
Is Science & Technology a priority?
Does R&D (innovation and creativity) play a
role in socio-economic development?
Level of undergraduate and graduate
programs, accreditation and certification?
Mobility of talent and work?
Investment and incentives for R&D?
Interdisciplinary and international
collaboration?
Entrepreneurial activities?
Public & private funding opportunities?
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Identified Obstacles
December 1990, UNM
Organizational meeting between UNM and
participants from universities, industries,
governments, and foundations throughout IberoAmerica
Identified obstacles that had to be addressed
immediately to allow S&T Collaboration in socioeconomic development
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Obstacles in 1990 ...

Lack of current information for planning and developing
technology

Lack of expertise in the use of information

Lack of international cooperation in developing the critical
mass needed for projects and joint efforts

Lack of interaction and confidence among universities,
industries, governments and multilateral organizations

Lack of availability of technology for social, cultural , and
economic development

Lack of entrepreneurship to bring technology and intellectual
property to the market place
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
ISTEC was Born
Explored
Opportunities
Identified
Obstacles
Developed
Initiatives
ISTEC was born
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Values
ISTEC is based on human values:
Quality of life.
Sharing.
Trust.
Collaboration and networking.
Social responsibility.
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Values
ISTEC is Sharing
ISTEC forms strategic alliances among
academia,
industry,
government
agencies, and multilateral organizations
to foster socio-economic development
Has fostered collaboration for 22 years
within & among more than 30 countries
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Values
ISTEC’s Success is Based in TRUST
Transparency
Efficiency
Effectiveness
Professionalism
Competitiveness
Competence
Knowledge
Accountability
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Evolution
•R&D Effort initially funded by Motorola, Inc.
•Initial regional focus: Countries in Ibero-America.
•Current focus: International collaboration.
•Work with officials from governments, academia,
research facilities, industrial firms and multilateral
organizations to gauge interest in improving
international collaborations in S&T.
•Identify areas of common interest for employing
state-of-the-art technology for hands-on education,
research, technology transfer and entrepreneurship.
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Developed Initiatives
Create a gateway for Information, R&D,
Education, and Entrepreneurial activities
Digital Library Linkages (DLL)
Advanced Continuing
Education (ACE)
Information
Technology
Los Libertadores (LL)
R&D Laboratories
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Principal Activities
•Library Linkage and digital information (Celsius).
•Establishment of laboratories (R&D; Motorola,
Xilinx,…).
•Evaluation for accreditation (Grana).
•Health (ISTEC-Salud).
•Social inclusion (La Plazita).
•Networks (Nanotechnology, Complex Systems,
Embedded Systems; Distributed Control; …)
•Entrepreneurship (Los Libertadores).
•Student contest
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Future Challenges
ISTEC’s future:
We have a well-established network in the region, and our next step is
to work with this network to guarantee sustainable socio-economic
development in Ibero-America and the world globally.
Meet and defeat challenges:
• Clean Energy.
• Water Conservation.
• Environmental Protection and natural resource management.
• Innovative solutions for health issues and local problems.
• Social Responsibility as a common shared value in the region.
• Culture of Quality: accreditation.
• Innovative, homogeneous and practical curricula.
• Improving quality of life overall.
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Future Scope
• More intense networking, in Ibero America and the
world.
• Innovation and Creativity to place Latin America in
the world’s development map.
• People working for the benefit of people with an
altruistic approach.
• Involving students from early stages on to better
their competences and form highly-prepared human
resources.
• Collaboration with all actors involved in Education,
Science, Technology and Development.
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Conclusion
• ISTEC’s impact in the region is evident and
tangible.
• This impact is due to the collaborative work of
many people, with an altruistic, philanthropy
approach —Champions and Leaders.
• Much has been done, but much more needs to be
done.
• The global challenges affect the planet as a whole;
Latin America has to be a principal actor in their
solution.
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012
Thanks!
Thank you very much for your
attention!
¡Muchísimas gracias por su amable
atención!
http://www.istec.org
WEEF 2012, Buenos Aires, Argentina
October 17, 2012