The University joins the 16 institutions to promote this collaborative space for research and development.

September 12, 2018

Yachay Tech University, 15 other higher education institutions, and Yachay Public Company signed an agreement with HUB NORTE. The document was officially signed on September 12, 2018, and its objective is to ensure the institutions’ participation in the execution of research and development activities in the different hubs of HUB NORTE. The signing of the agreement took place during an event that had the participation of Senescyt authorities: Lorena Zeggane, Zonal Coordinator 1 and 2; Carolina Zambrano, Undersecretary of Science, Technology and Innovation; and Gabriel Bermeo, Director of Innovation; and the rectors and other authorities of the universities and institutes involved. The event was held on the Universidad Técnica del Norte campus.

The zonal coordinator, Lorena Zeggane, assured that the creation of HUB NORTE is a starting point for the establishment of a policy of sustained research over time, in which the productive sector, the State and the Academy collaborate for local and national development. HUB NORTE has been under construction for several months, the signing of the agreement is only the conclusion of the first stage of the project. The Zonal Coordination 1 and 2 of Senescyt initiated the development of HUB NORTE on March 14, 2018. Seven meetings have been held in which the details of the hub and the signing of the agreement were refined.

HUB NORTE is made up of several hubs (physical or virtual spaces where entrepreneurs and industries converge to create projects) that will have the highly qualified infrastructure to articulate the different actors and develop projects that contribute to the development of this sector. The priority research areas of the Hub are agriculture, livestock, tourism, fishing, textile manufacturing, petrochemicals, and agroforestry. Each institution acquires the commitment to participate actively in projects that promote the development of activities concerning innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer, generating an agenda of specific activities with the productive, academic, public and social sectors. In addition, the agreement seeks to take advantage of contact networks with international institutions and organizations and promote continuing education and postgraduate programs.

According to Undersecretary Zambrano, Senescyt will support HUB NORTE by providing USD $300.000. The agreement for the creation of HUB NORTE was signed by the authorities of the participating institutions:

• Universidad Yachay Tech
• Universidad Técnica del Norte.
• Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM
• Universidad Técnica Luis Vargas Torres de Esmeraldas
• Universidad de Otavalo
• Universidad Politécnica Estatal del Carchi
• PUCE-Sede Ibarra
• PUCE-Sede Esmeraldas
• Instituto Tecnológico Superior Oriente
• Instituto Tecnológico Superior Crecermas
• Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes Extensión Ibarra
• Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes Extensión Tulcán
• Universidad Estatal Amazónica Extensión Sucumbíos
• Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo Extensión de Norte Amazónica
• Instituto Tecnológico Superior Tena
• Instituto Superior Pedagógico Intercultural Bilingüe Martha Bucaram de Roldós
• Yachay Empresa Pública