With the firm intention of connecting Costa Rican talent with international opportunities in research and climate action, the Technological Institute of Costa Rica (TEC) and EcoCitizen recently signed a framework agreement for collaboration.
This agreement, signed by TEC Rector María Estrada Sánchez and EcoCitizen CEO Adriana González Villalobos, establishes the basis for the development of joint research projects, academic and student exchanges, and other initiatives that strengthen mutual commitment to sustainability, integral ecology, and planetary health.
Based in Luxembourg and with an extensive network of partners, EcoCitizen is a private scientific research entity accredited by the government of that European country. Founded and led by Costa Rican engineer Adriana González, this organization works on issues of high global relevance such as climate change, green technologies, environmental regeneration, gender equality, and scientific diplomacy.
“The purpose of this agreement is to open doors and build bridges, leveraging TEC’s academic talent and EcoCitizen’s collaboration as a cooperation arm in Luxembourg and Europe,” said González, who has been a negotiator at United Nations climate conferences and is recognized as an expert at the intersection of technology, gender, and sustainability.
Among the priority areas for collaboration are the use of space technologies for environmental monitoring, bioacoustics studies, and projects related to social and environmental indicators, governance, decarbonization, and climate resilience. The agreement also seeks to promote international mobility for students and teachers, creating high-level training and applied research platforms.
The agreement is valid for five years and establishes the creation of an annual program of activities that will be coordinated by designated representatives from both institutions. On behalf of TEC, Professor Branko Hilje Rodríguez from the School of Forestry Engineering will be in charge, and on behalf of EcoCitizen, CEO Adriana González herself.
“This agreement strengthens the channeling of significant funds from European entities to carry out research and outreach projects, as well as strengthening final graduation projects and student and teacher exchanges, further improving the internationalization of TEC.” – Branko Hilje Rodríguez, professor and researcher, School of Forestry Engineering.
Hilje emphasized that the agreement promotes research into the protection, conservation, and restoration of forest ecosystems.
“The goal is for talented Costa Rican students to gain experience outside Costa Rica and become leaders in the near future. That is why the agreement aims to open doors and build bridges, leveraging the academic talent of TEC and the collaboration of EcoCitizen as a cooperation arm in Luxembourg and Europe,” added González, who has been a negotiator at United Nations climate conferences and is recognized as an expert at the intersection of technology, gender, and sustainability.
This agreement consolidates the shared vision of both parties to create a real and positive impact on communities, science, and the environment through international collaboration.
The agreement also proposes to promote the reciprocal exchange of information on research topics, postgraduate courses, books, publications, and other materials supporting research and teaching, thereby facilitating the common goal of creating positive change for the environment by harmonizing ecological, social, and research efforts.
“From Luxembourg, we want to continue building cooperation networks with Costa Rica. This agreement with TEC is a concrete step toward that goal,” González concluded.
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