Zapopan, Jalisco; July 2, 2025. The Universidad Panamericana Guadalajara campus hosted representatives from the Jalisco State Secretariat of Innovation, Science, and Technology (SICyT) to hold a collaboration workshop aimed at promoting high-impact joint projects in the fields of innovation, science, and social development.
The working session, held in the Garciarce Room at the Rector’s Office, brought together strategic leaders from both institutions with the aim of establish channels of collaboration that would link academic knowledge with the needs of the state’s social, scientific, and productive sectors.
Science and Education as Drivers of Development
During the meeting, the Dr. Abraham Mendoza Andrade, chancellor of the Guadalajara campus, highlighted the university’s of the university to generating knowledge that is useful to society:
“Over the past ten years, the Universidad Panamericana has seen significant growth in its research activities and capabilities. Today, the goal is to make all of these capabilities available to the government and the private sector in order to generate a greater social impact through this work.”
He also emphasized the importance of working in an interdisciplinary manner to strengthen the university’s contribution to issues such as public policy, science, and education:
“We have a series of topics that we’ve already been selecting, and we’re pooling our interdisciplinary expertise to begin to strengthen our efforts and have a greater impact on solving important problems.”
For his part, Horacio Fernández Castillo, Secretary of Innovation, Science, and Technology for the State of Jalisco, shared the strategic vision of the agency he heads:
“The vision of this department is to transform Jalisco into a hub of innovation and a national and Latin American leader for cutting-edge educational models in higher educationthat foster scientific capabilities, technology transfer, competitiveness, and entrepreneurship, thereby improving people’s lives.”
Key players who spearheaded the meeting
Key officials from both institutions participated in the meeting. Representing the Jalisco State Secretariat of Innovation, Science, and Technology were the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Mtra. Fanny Valdivia Márquez; the Director General of Science and Technological Development, Mtra. Larisa Cruz Ornelas; the Director General of Innovation, Business, and Social Development, Mtra. Nora Martín Galindo; the General Coordinator, Carlos Velázquez Santillanes, M.A.; and the Director General of COECYTJAL, Alfonso Mojica Navarro, M.A.
Representing the University of the Pacific ( Universidad Panamericana ) were the Vice Rector, Dr. Francisco Orozco; the Director of Research, Dr. Daniela Salgado; and the UP-IPADE Vice Rector for Research, Dr. Sergio Velázquez, as well as Dr. Jafet Rodríguez, Dean of the School of Engineering; Dr. Fidencio Tapia, research professor; Dr. Hugo Briseño, Secretary of Research for the School of Business; Abraham Baltazar León, M.A., Institutional Research Coordinator; and Alejandro Suárez, M.A., Assistant to the President.
UP and SICyT: Innovation with a Purpose
This event reaffirms the commitment of the Guadalajara campus of the National Institute of Technology ( Universidad Panamericana ) to be an active agent in transforming the local community by linking its academic and scientific work to the country’s real needs.
Through dialogue, cooperation, and a shared vision with government agencies, our institution is strengthening its role as a university dedicated to the common good, with its sights set on a future where innovation, science, and education are the driving forces of human and social development.
Learn more about the mission of Universidad Panamericana at: https://www.up.edu.mx/sobre-la-universidad-fundamentos-y-valores/
