Industria, Innovación e Infraestructura

FICT ESPOL launched the eighth cohort of the Holcim Academy, an initiative developed in partnership with the industry to strengthen the training of future civil engineers in sustainability and responsible construction; the first module focused on the circular economy and waste management, promoting skills geared toward innovation and sustainable development in the construction sector.

Students from the SPE–ESPOL Student Chapter took an international technical field trip to YPF’s La Plata Industrial Complex in Argentina, where they learned about the refining and operational processes at one of South America’s most important energy complexes; the experience strengthened their practical training and exposed these future engineers to high-tech industrial environments.

Faculty members and researchers from the FICT and the Master’s Program in Seismic-Resistant Civil Structures continue to enhance ESPOL’s international profile through scientific publications in specialized journals such as CPI Worldwide. Their research promotes sustainable and innovative solutions for civil engineering, incorporating recycled materials and eco-efficient technologies.

The ESPOL SPE Student Chapter represented Ecuador at the PetroBowl Regional LACSS 2026 international competition in Argentina, where petroleum engineering students demonstrated their technical knowledge and analytical skills against teams from across Latin America; the experience strengthened their professional training and reaffirmed the international presence of FICT and ESPOL in the energy sector.

The study develops predictive models based on machine learning to optimize the evaluation of CO₂ injection in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), reducing the need for multiple complex numerical simulations. Using open-source tools, the models achieve high accuracy in predicting production and CO₂ retention, positioning them as an efficient and reproducible alternative for decision-making in reservoir engineering.

FICT kicked off the third cohort of the Master’s in Earth Sciences with a welcome session during which 14 students were introduced to the academic structure, the faculty, the research areas, and the infrastructure available to support their studies. The program strengthens specialized training in geosciences and prepares professionals to address challenges related to sustainability, environmental management, and natural resource management.

The Faculty of Geosciences Engineering held a follow-up meeting on the 2026 innovation indicators, in coordination with the Office for the Transfer of Research Results, with the aim of identifying projects with the potential to be registered as intellectual property. As a result, five initiatives and actions were identified to strengthen innovation management and advance progress toward meeting institutional indicators.

The Faculty of Geosciences Engineering at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral reviewed proposals for the interdisciplinary course in Civil Engineering to ensure the quality and relevance of the projects for PAO I 2026. This activity strengthened academic planning and promoted practical training aimed at solving real-world challenges in the professional environment.

FICT strengthened its research capabilities through an academic visit to the Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, where specialized equipment and instrumentation were evaluated for possible implementation at ESPOL. The experience made it possible to identify opportunities for improvement in the laboratories, promote technological upgrades, and strengthen geotechnical training and research in accordance with international standards.

ESPOL is strengthening research on sustainable mining through a technical visit to the University of Huelva, where advanced analyses of mining tailings were conducted to assess the potential for recovering critical minerals; the initiative promoted international scientific cooperation and the development of solutions aimed at the responsible use of mineral resources.