Strengthening University Tech Transfer Capabilities to support Circular Economy Value Chains for Plastics in Latin America

External Advisor Commitee:
Proposal to Participate

MdC. Fabio Cruz

Université de Lorraine

October 2, 2025

TechTraPlastiCE Project

Consortium

🏛️ 9 Higher Education Institutions | 1 Association
⏳ Feb. 2025 - Jan. 2028
€ 799.887 Euros

Main Goal

🎯 The main goal is to reinforce the applied research and technological transfer capacities of the universities improving their services portfolios to strengthen the plastic industry’s contribution to the green transition.



🧩🧩 The ambition is to foster the collaboration and partnerships of the University with socio-economic stakeholders to incubate, establish and develop circular initiatives, demonstrating operational success by carrying out joint recycling interventions integrating actors in the plastics value chain in Colombia, Argentina, and Chile.

Specific Goals

  • SO1: To identify and understand key barriers and leverage points of the local plastic companies to generate university-industry collaboration opportunities.

  • SO2: Create and implement services and solutions portfolios for the plastics value chain based on the university’s core competencies and knowledge.

  • SO3: Encourage multi-actor initiatives to enhance the reuse of plastic involving waste pickers organizations, companies and the local public sectors, taking advantage of the University’s articulation capacities.

  • SO4: Develop recommendations on new technologies, business models, and organizational setups for university-industry collaborations based on the lessons learned from the implemented projects as a tool to improve, scale up and transfer good practices in HEIs in Latin America.

Approach

Milestones

External Advisory Board –EBA–

Objective:

The main objective of the EAB is to provide independent, strategic advice to the project consortium based on the intermediary results, thereby enhancing the overall scientific and societal impact of the initiative.

Composition

Members of the EAB will be selected for their expertise and professional standing in areas directly relevant to the core objectives of the project. Particular focus will be placed on:

  1. Technological transfer and academia-industry collaboration : experts in these competences will TechTraPlastiCE consortium to adquire effective knowledge onthe different transfer mechanisms and partnerships and their limitations. This is important in the sscope of the project.

  2. Circular economy within the plastic value chain: experts in cricular economy could bring to the consortium examples of sustainable practices, lifecycle thinking, and resource efficiency where the academia can collaborate with the socio-economical actors.

  3. Integration of marginalized actors in the plastic value chain into academic and research ecosystems : experts in this topic can illustrated the consortium, and more particular the latinamerican context, the relevant role of inclusivity, equity, and capacity building for underrepresented communities in the circular economy. This is a major competence where the shared of experiences will have a major impact inside and outside of the consortium.

TechTraPlastiCE’s Work Plan

⬇️ Download Pdf file

EBA participation.

Goal 2025

Introduction to TechTraPlastiCE

  1. Inrtoduction to TechTraPlastiCE project.
  2. Presentation of 30 min on topics related to TechtraPlastiCE objectives.

Goal 2026

T2.3: Promoting cross-peer collaboration and mentoring. Time: Q1 2026

  1. Participation in the online seassion regarding the WP2 on the development of a networked portfolio.
  2. Feedback on the advances of the consortium related to Circular Economy and Tech Transfer University-Society.

T3.5: Implementation of collaborative initiatives - Time: Q1 2027

  1. Participation in the online seassion regarding the WP3 on the multi-actor collaborations.
  2. Feedback on the potential collaboration in each country.

Goal 2027

T4.3: Cross evaluation of pilot projects between Latin American Universities. Time Q2 2027

  1. Participation in the cross-evaluation fo the pilots projects

T3.5: Implementation of collaborative initiatives. Time: Q4 2027

  1. Feedback on the Institutional Recommendations.

Why participate to the EBA?.

  1. Impact on Sustainable Development

Joining the project allows you to directly contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Your expertise can drive real change in reducing plastic waste and improving circularity in resource-intensive sectors.

  1. Bridge Between Regions and Systems

As an advisor, you can play a critical role in aligning European circular economy practices with Latin American realities. Your involvement helps facilitate meaningful tech transfers and policy adaptations, ensuring that innovations are context-appropriate and scalable across different socioeconomic environments.

  1. Leverage and Expand Your Network

The project provides a unique platform to collaborate with leading European and Latin American institutions, startups, NGOs, and policymakers. This can open doors for future partnerships, research opportunities, and consulting engagements in both regions.

Experts on the External Advisory Board –EBA–

Maria José Zapata 🇸🇪

Associate Professor at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg since 2017.

María José has reserach interest are Grassroots for Sustainability , Public-private collaboration, Organizing sustainability, Organizing environmental sustainability in cities.

Some projects:

Ferran Giones 🇩🇪

Deputy head of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science (ENI) at the University of Stuttgart (Germany). Before, he was an assistant professor on Technology Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Sønderborg, Denmark.

His research interest are:

  1. Technology Entrepreneurship and Industry Emergence, exploring the role of new ventures, established firms, and technologies.
  2. Science Commercialization and the search of applications for emerging technologies.
    1. Technology Exaptation as part of innovation activities (and strategy) in established and new firms.

Astrid Jaime Arias 🇨🇴

Associate Researcher at Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios. Experience and knowledge in management of projects of research and innovation, knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship, intellectual property and extension and teaching experience in related topics.

Interested in Management of Knowledge, Science, Technology and Innovation.

Magali Maida

Director of Knowledge Development and Transfer at Universidad del Desarrollo.

Magali is a Lawyer with focus in intellectual property and technology transfer, providing comprehensive support in the management of research results, patent searches, and global IP strategy. Skilled in technology valuation, market analysis, and the development of licensing strategies, including the identification of potential licensees.

Veronica Bucala 🇦🇷

Ex-Professor at the Universidad Nacional del Sur and ex-Director at PLAPIQUI (UNS-CONICET).

Mara Volpe 🇦🇷

Mara is Technical Manager at Cyclus, where she lead consulting and technological services grounded in the principles of Circular Economy and Decarbonization.

She has over 30 years of experience as a scientific researcher, with expertise in Heterogeneous Catalysis, biomass Pyrolysis, Biochar production for the steel and agricultural industries, and Advanced Chemical Recycling of mixed plastics and end-of-life tires.

She have worked on interdisciplinary projects across Biology, Agronomy, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, while also collaborating closely with the private sector.

Her focus is on the development and implementation of projects with a triple-impact approach, assessing social, environmental, and economic outcomes to foster sustainable practices and innovative solutions.

Marcos Maldonado 🇨🇱

Marcos is the Head of R&D at the Ministry of Science of the Government of Chile, where his work focuses on public policy and research coordination. Industrial engineer with a double Chilean–French diploma in Industrial and Systems Engineering and a Master II in Innovation Management and Industrial Design.

He has more than six years of experience in technology and innovation. His professional trajectory includes fostering innovation projects aligned with forestry and agricultural priorities, contributing to sustainable development and the integration of scientific knowledge into policy and practice.

Flavio