Producción y Consumo Responsables

On February 24, 2026, the Faculty of Earth Sciences Engineering at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (Litoral Polytechnic School) conducted a technical visit to the Imptek-Chova industrial plant of Ecuador S.A. in Pichincha, with the aim of strengthening academic-business ties.

From January 28 to 31, 2026, researchers from the Center for Research and Applied Projects in Earth Sciences and professors from The Faculty of Earth Sciences Engineering at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral held a training session in Francisco de Orellana as part of a project aimed at strengthening local capacities to address the impacts of illegal mining.

ESPOL signed an addendum to the tripartite cooperation agreement with CELEC E.P. to expand the technical and scientific scope of applied research in geological and geotechnical studies at the CELEC-SUR unit. The expansion includes additional funding to carry out new soil and rock mechanics tests and geophysical studies, strengthening the characterization of the territory, the security of energy infrastructure, and coordination between academia and the strategic sector.

The project “Monitoring of soil health bioindicators in syntropic agroforestry food systems in the Amazon” was approved and funded by CNPq and ACTO in the Pro-Amazonia call for proposals. The initiative, led by UFRA with the participation of ESPOL, will integrate GIS and remote sensing to analyze and monitor soil health. ESPOL's participation is through Ph.D. Andrés Velástegui, strengthening international scientific cooperation and the generation of key information for the sustainable management of the Amazon region.

The Faculty of Earth Sciences Engineering (FICT) at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral participated virtually in the Latin American Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems, held in Cartagena de Indias, where it presented research on life cycle assessment in wastewater treatment plants. This participation strengthened the institution's international scientific profile and institutional commitment to sustainable development.

FICT-ESPOL students participated in an experimental class at the Holcim Innovation Center, where they performed concrete quality control tests and analyzed technical and environmental criteria in mix design, strengthening their hands-on training and focus on sustainability.

FICT–ESPOL researcher, David Enrique Valverde Burneo, from the facultad de ingenieria en ciencias de la tierra, earned a Cum Laude honorable mention following his doctoral thesis defense at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), highlighting the impact and quality of his research on new cementitious materials.

ESPOL’s FICT has secured funding in the 2025 CEDIA R+D+i Universities Call for the project: 'Evaluation of the recovery potential of critical minerals present in mine tailings.' The research will be conducted in 2026 and will address the responsible management of mining waste and the recovery of strategic minerals, featuring a team led by FICT faculty in collaboration with both national and international universities.

ESPOL’s FICT is gearing up for THE FINAL PITCH, an academic event where five finalist Capstone Projects from the Petroleum Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Civil Engineering programs will showcase their ability to communicate innovative proposals that address real-world national challenges. The event aims to strengthen communication, argumentation, and presentation skills, promoting innovation and the comprehensive training of future professionals.