Colombia Científica: Innovation and Partnerships for the Future of Education

Imagine sailing along the Nechí River in Antioquia aboard Serena, the first solar-electric boat in Latin America. Silent, sustainable, and built with Colombian talent, it showcases the country’s ability to develop cutting-edge technology and reach remote areas. Serena not only transports people—it carries a message: science, education, and innovation can transform lives.

This is one of many visible achievements of the Colombia Científica program, an initiative that, between 2017 and 2023, demonstrated that strategic partnerships can be a transformative tool for a country’s Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation sectors. Promoted under the framework of the World Bank’s Access and Quality in Higher Education Program (PACES), this initiative sought, through eight strategic alliances, to improve educational and scientific quality in Colombia to address the country’s most pressing challenges.

The success of Colombia Científica lies in its innovative capacity to bring together worlds that should always walk side by side. Through inter-institutional alliances, the program connected 39 public and private universities, 56 international institutions from 20 countries, government entities, companies, and local communities to confront five major challenges facing the country: health, sustainable energy, food security, bioeconomy, and social reconstruction in post-conflict zones.

And how does that translate into real life?

It means, for example, that over 20 students and researchers from the SENECA Alliance, led by the University of Antioquia in Medellín, were able to work on scientific projects with tangible impact, such as the development of technologies to improve energy efficiency in rural areas. They also collaborated on initiatives like Serena, a solar-powered boat specially designed for the municipality of Magangué, in Bolívar—a highly vulnerable community that depends on the river as a vital source of transportation and income. Engineering students and faculty not only learned in the classroom—they immersed themselves in a real-life lab, creating prototypes that could improve the lives of entire communities.

The program also promoted the strengthening of non-accredited universities by pairing them with accredited institutions to bolster their institutional capacity, encourage knowledge exchange, and elevate the quality of the education system. As a result, there is now a wide array of articles, papers, and events jointly produced by professors and students from different universities across Colombia and around the world.

For instance, in the Bio-Reto XXI Alliance, led by the Industrial University of Santander (UIS), faculty and students worked alongside the University of Cartagena and colleagues from the Technological University of Chocó, using local biodiversity to create products such as repellents, sunscreens, antivirals, and cosmetics derived from Colombian plants. They also trained new university talent and educated communities in Chocó on sustainable forest conservation practices.

And there is more: in the GAT CÁNCER Alliance, led by Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, researchers are developing cancer treatments based on plants like pepper, moringa, and soursop. Meanwhile, Pontificia Universidad Bolivariana in Medellín led the Nanobiocáncer Alliance, which applies nanotechnology, biotechnology, and bioengineering to prevent, diagnose, and treat colon cancer. 

All of this took place in Colombia—driven by local talent and collective commitment.

What were the results? 

By the end of the program in 2023, the results exceeded expectations, delivering transformative and sustainable impacts in Higher Education and the Science, Technology, and Innovation sectors.

By 2023, more than 1,200 researchers—including 204 from non-accredited universities—had participated in scientific projects funded by the program, and 1,081 students and faculty received advanced-level training. All participating universities had institutional strengthening plans to achieve or maintain the accreditation granted by the Colombian Government. Moreover, 15 of the 18 non-accredited universities involved had obtained or were close to obtaining said accreditation.

The eight alliances surpassed their scientific and technological production goals by 133.5%, contributing over 4,400 new scientific products to address the five national challenges. This included 66 industrial prototypes, 44 patentable products, 10 granted patents and the creation of 10 technology-based companies. In economic and social terms, 160 partners were involved across 22 departments in the country, ensuring national coverage and inclusion in tackling both regional and national challenges.

Colombia Científica has been an unprecedented effort to position Higher Education and Science, Technology, and Innovation as key tools for addressing Colombia’s—and global—greatest challenges. By bringing together diverse actors and focusing on real-world problems, the program not only exceeded its goals but also left behind a model of collaborative innovation that can be replicated. The lessons from this experience can inspire decision-makers in Colombia and around the world to build educational and scientific ecosystems that foster sustainable development.