FICT research project secures funding in the 2025 CEDIA R+D+i Universities Call

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The Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) at ESPOL has achieved significant academic recognition by winning the 2025 CEDIA R+D+i Universities Call, an initiative that funds high-impact scientific research, technological development, and innovation projects at a national level.

The selected project, titled "Evaluation of the recovery potential of critical minerals present in mine tailings: sustainable and strategic mining," will be executed throughout 2026. It aims to generate applied scientific knowledge in a key area for Ecuador’s sustainable development: the responsible management of mining waste and the recovery of strategic minerals.

The proposal is led by Dr. Samantha Jiménez as Project Director, with the participation of Dr. Priscila Valverde as Co-Director and M.Sc. Karla Villamar as Researcher, consolidating female leadership in scientific and technological research within the institution.

The project involves inter-institutional collaboration with the Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam and the University of Machala, as well as the participation of researchers from the University of Huelva (Spain) and Ghent University (Belgium), strengthening international academic cooperation and the exchange of specialized knowledge.

This achievement reaffirms ESPOL’s commitment to excellence in research, innovation, and the generation of scientific solutions oriented toward the country’s sustainable development.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This project aligns with the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically:

  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, by promoting the development of innovative technological solutions for the responsible use of mineral resources.

  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through the recovery of mine tailings and the reduction of environmental impacts.

  • SDG 13: Climate Action, by contributing to sustainable mining practices that mitigate the effects of climate change and foster environmentally responsible management of natural resources.