The International Programs Officer of SOARD held discussions with university authorities and researchers to explore avenues for collaboration and funding in basic science and innovation.
On Thursday, August 7, PUCP welcomed Dr. Teresa De La Puente, International Programs Officer at the Southern Office of Aerospace Research and Development (SOARD) of the United States Air Force, as part of a renewed effort to strengthen international scientific cooperation with this high-level U.S. institution.
The meeting, held in the Rector’s Office conference room, brought together representatives from three key actors: PUCP authorities, representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Peru, and the SOARD Office. Participants included PUCP’s Rector, Dr. Julio del Valle; Vice-Rector for Research, Dr. Eduardo Ísmodes; and Director of the Academic Directorate of Institutional Relations (DARI), Dr. María Antonieta Delgado, alongside Dr. Patricia Pérez, Head of Education and Youth at the U.S. Embassy, and Dr. De La Puente representing SOARD. The event also saw the active participation of PUCP faculty researchers whose areas of expertise—in engineering, physical sciences, chemistry, and biology—align with SOARD’s priority research fields.
The purpose of this session was to present the international funding opportunities offered by SOARD and to create a direct space for dialogue with PUCP researchers to identify potential candidates for its research grants.
During her presentation, Dr. Teresa De La Puente outlined SOARD’s main areas of support, which focus on strengthening basic science, fostering innovative projects, and promoting participation in international conferences. She also explained the application process, which begins with the submission of a pre-proposal (known as a white paper), and described the content of the official grant document (Broad Agency Announcement – BAA), which compiles current calls for proposals and the research topics of interest to the institution.
The session concluded with an open discussion between PUCP researchers and the SOARD representative, during which ideas were exchanged on related research fields and potential collaborations. This exchange allowed for the identification of shared interests and possible cooperation pathways that could result in the funding of future projects.
SOARD’s visit to PUCP marks a new milestone in strengthening academic and research cooperation between our university and the U.S. government. This meeting adds to the institution’s ongoing efforts to build a global network of scientific collaboration, establish partnerships with internationally recognized entities, and project PUCP’s research to the world.
