Administrative Unit
Parque Tecnológico Guatiguará (Guatiguará Technology Park)
ABOUT THE
Campus
The Parque Tecnológico Guatiguará (PTG), located in Piedecuesta, is a UIS initiative that drives the development of the regional innovation ecosystem. This project focuses on strengthening scientific and technological knowledge, facilitating technology transfer between knowledge generators and companies, and fostering the creation of new research-based enterprises.
In addition to serving as a platform that connects the University’s research with the needs of the productive sector, the PTG complements the teaching-oriented campuses by supporting the institutional missions of research and outreach.
CENTRAL
LABORATORIES
STRATEGIC
Areas
Information and Communication Technologies
Biotechnology and Agroindustry
Energy
Resources
Materials
Consolidated Spaces
Litoteca Nacional del Servicio Geológico Colombiano
(National Core Repository of the Colombian Geological Survey)Two Productive Development Centers:
Corporación para la Investigación de la Corrosión – CIC (Corporation for Corrosion Research – CIC)
Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico del Gas – CDT del Gas (Gas Technology Development Center – CDT del Gas)
15,000 square meters of UIS laboratories.
7,000 square meters for the location of R&D business units (GECT Buildings 1 and 2).
.
Impact
- Collaboration between the productive sector and academia in solving real productivity challenges.
- Creation of a favorable environment for entrepreneurship and the development of technology-based companies that generate high added value.
- Increased attractiveness of the region for the establishment of national and multinational knowledge-intensive companies.
- Potential increase in foreign investment in the region.
- Growth in employment opportunities for highly skilled individuals due to the presence of technology-based companies.
Permanent, High-Quality Education
The scientific and technological equipment installed in the PTG laboratories supports the University’s training processes, primarily in aspects related to research. This infrastructure, under the supervision of faculty and specialized professionals assigned to the laboratories, is used by undergraduate students (research-based graduation projects) and graduate students (master’s research projects and doctoral dissertations) to fulfill the mandatory requirement for obtaining their degree.
Collaboration with the Business Sector
Several of the research and technology transfer processes carried out by UIS researchers at the PTG address real-world business challenges, seeking to provide appropriate solutions. In this context, and given the region’s vocation, Ecopetrol (Colombian Oil Company)—through the Instituto Colombiano del Petróleo – ICP (Colombian Petroleum Institute – ICP)—is the main user of our services, making use of scientific-technological cooperation agreements as well as contracts for laboratory testing and trial services.
Other companies that maintain an ongoing relationship with the PTG include, among others, the Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (National Hydrocarbons Agency), the Servicio Geológico Colombiano (Colombian Geological Survey), and firms from the pharmaceutical, orthopedic implant, and mining sectors.
Research and Outreach
The facilities installed in the PTG laboratories primarily contribute to fulfilling the University’s research mission, both formative (undergraduate students) and formal, aimed at generating new knowledge. This materializes in the research projects of master’s students, the dissertations of doctoral students, as well as internal and external research projects and scientific-technological cooperation agreements carried out by professors affiliated with the various research groups and centers located there.
The scientific outreach services offered by the PTG consist of conducting and interpreting laboratory tests—several of them accredited under ISO 17025—for a wide range of companies and industrial sectors.
Some of the research projects developed by the University’s Groups and Centers have resulted in the creation of protectable knowledge; UIS currently holds 54 invention patents that must begin to be capitalized through licensing or the creation of spin-offs.
Internationalization and Regionalization
Through proper coordination with various University offices, the PTG serves as a platform that facilitates internationalization processes; our laboratories host students and professors from other institutions that have active agreements and collaboration accords with the University. In addition, the equipment installed there is engaged in the execution of research projects funded either through public calls or with resources from international cooperation, in which our groups and centers participate jointly with peers from institutions around the world.
Regarding regionalization, the PTG permanently welcomes visits from first-semester students of the Regional Campuses and from final-year high school students of departmental public schools, in fulfillment of actions aimed at increasing the Park’s visibility while also encouraging and fostering a research-oriented spirit among our students.
Strengthening Interaction with Society
In the effort to provide greater visibility and projection to the development of the PTG, various visits have been regularly received and meetings held with potential partners and stakeholders interested in formalizing relationships or providing support.
Furthermore, the PTG–UIS Project Coordination participates, as part of the institutional representation, in all meetings of the Comité Universidad Empresa Estado de Santander – CUEES (University–Industry–Government Committee of Santander – CUEES) and the Comisión Regional de Competitividad e Innovación – SANTANDER COMPETITIVO (Regional Commission for Competitiveness and Innovation – SANTANDER COMPETITIVO).
PROJECTION OF
PTG
To ensure the success of a project of such magnitude, both its main stakeholders and society itself must face major challenges. These include networking so that the different regional and national actors of the Sistema Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (National System of Science, Technology, and Innovation) take ownership of the initiative; securing the support of central nodes for regional development such as the Comisión Regional de Competitividad e Innovación – SANTANDER COMPETITIVO (Regional Commission for Competitiveness and Innovation – SANTANDER COMPETITIVO), the Consejo Departamental de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación de Santander – CODECTI (Departmental Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Santander – CODECTI), and the Comité Universidad, Empresa, Estado de Santander – CUEES (University–Industry–Government Committee of Santander – CUEES); as well as national-level institutions such as the Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación – MinCiencias (Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation – MinCiencias). These actors enable the articulation of the CT+I system agents at both national and regional levels, and the management of resources to advance the development of high-quality service infrastructures, among the most important goals.
In the medium term, and within the framework of its Plan Maestro 2030 (Master Plan 2030), the PTG must complete its establishment phase to begin a growth stage, which includes, among other actions:
- Formalization of an organizational structure for its management.
- Management for the acquisition of additional financial resources to support the new needs of R&D spaces and scientific-technological equipment.
- Creation of a platform for the incubation and acceleration of technology-based companies.
- Creation of specialized units: Promotion – International Cooperation – Technology Valuation and Commercialization – Technology Foresight and Competitive Intelligence – Think Tank (Science, Technology, and Innovation Policies – CTel).
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Contact Us
Parque Tecnológico Guatiguará
Telephone: +57 (607) 634 4000
Extension: 3500
Email: guatiguara@uis.edu.co
Parque Tecnológico Guatiguará
Piedecuesta, Santander
Kilometro 2, Vía Refugio
Office Hours
Mondays to Fridays
7:00 a.m. – noon.
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.