Public Account: Rector Vidal assesses a 13% increase in public spending on energy transition and scientific and technological development

President Gabriel Boric addressed relevant issues for Higher Education and research in Chile at the National Congress. He referred to the cancellation of the CAE, the strengthening of the state CFT and the importance of universities in the development of science and new technologies. Likewise, he made a mention of the two-time Pan American 2023 karate champions of Costa Rica and dedicated space to the public grievances against the Minister of Education and the academic Elisa Loncon.

Enzo Borroni Ricardi, Journalist.- After one year and almost three months in office, the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric Font, held his second Public Account in the National Congress in the city of Valparaíso, with the purpose of reporting on the advances, declines and initiatives of the present and future that hope to give greater development and growth to the country.

The rector of our University, Dr. Rodrigo Vidal Rojas, attended the democratic meeting, who delivered his opinion on this extensive message to the nation.

“The 13% increase for science and technology, for innovation and entrepreneurship, the link with Chilean universities, I think it is another announcement to continue positioning ourselves, as he said, as a world leader in production of non-conventional renewable energies”, said the authority.

Rector Usach pointed out that the state universities are still indebted in terms of basal financing and the agreement regarding the development of strategic areas for the country, entrusted as a mission to the State study houses and with strong support from the Government.

“I think the talks will continue to develop, because there is interest in it. The state universities are absolutely convinced and committed to this support for the scientific, technological, cultural and social development of the country, but we also need the commitment of the State of Chile”, the authority emphasized.

Other aspects of the Public Account

President Boric indicated that there is a will to advance in research and technology in parallel in two ways. “One pushed by our regional universities, throughout Chile, and another by those universities that today already move the frontier of the possible and bring us closer to the future,” the president pointed out in his speech.

In this same area, the president indicated that his government will seek to accelerate the path for science and technology made in Chile to exist in each region of the country.

“This fund will also allow our universities to be real actors in big dreams: so that through local knowledge and technology we can operate our own fleet of satellites, get to know our ocean in depth, and be able to face security problems, the pandemics and mega fires”, he emphasized.

He also had words for the Credit with State Guarantee CAE, “Last year I promised to enter a bill once the tax reform was approved and my commitment continues.” In this sense, Rector Usach pointed out that he has no doubt that President Boric will keep his word.

Regarding the announcements about the State CFTs, ​​Rector Vidal expressed his approval of the strengthening of quality, governance and infrastructure and the investment of more than 14 billion pesos, and the 112% increase in the budget for 2023 with respect to to the previous year.

President Boric, at the end of the Public Account, mentioned members of our university community, when celebrating the double victory of Valentina Toro and Matías Rodríguez, Usach students who obtained the two-time championship in the 2023 Pan American Karate Games, held in Costa Rica.

In the same way, he was emphatic in pointing out that contempt between people should be put to an end just for thinking differently or belonging to a different identity or being part of a specific origin, as happened in these weeks with the Minister of Education, the parliamentarian Marisela Santibáñez and the academic of our University, Elisa Loncon.

Commemoration 50 years

In President Boric’s speech, special emphasis was placed on memory and respect for human rights, urging the country’s higher education institutions to be protagonists in the homage and remembrance ceremonies of a new anniversary of the coup d’état in 1973.

“It seemed important to me that he emphasized in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état, the importance of closing a stage and to be able to look to the future,” said Rector Vidal.

Know the opinion of our Rector on the Public Account in the following audiovisual record.