Digital Inclusion Sector Fund

In July 2015, the Center for Research – Ceibal Foundation and the National Agency for Research and Innovation (Spanish acronym: ANII), launched the first Uruguayan Education Sector Fund “Digital Inclusion: Education with New Horizons.”

Among its objective is the promotion of excellence in research for the integration of digital technologies and innovation into education.

So far, three calls for proposals were issued (2015 – 2016 – 2017) to fund original research contributing to the implementation and assessment of education and technology policies. These calls have allowed to strengthen national research in education and technology; create new scientific capabilities and promote knowledge transfer between national and foreign institutions; produce useful inputs for the adoption of public policies and to facilitate the transfer and use of research findings for the benefit of the education system both in Uruguay and in participating countries.

In 2015, 12 proposals were funded for a total amount of US$ 400,000. The objectives of the 2016 call also included human resource training (Master’s degree scholarships), and 12 new research projects were funded (for a total of US$ 500,000). Six of them included in their research team a student on a scholarship for a master’s degree. The submitted projects were assessed by two expert committees including specialized academics from Uruguay and abroad. One of the main characteristics of the modality “Digital Inclusion: Education with New Horizons”, is based in fostering partnerships between national and foreign institutions by promoting the joint submission of interinstitutional projects.

All universities in Uruguay have participated in this initiative. In addition, the presence of universities and research centres from Latin America as well as the USA, Europe, Israel, New Zealand and Australia has been increasing steadily. The current call (2017) has attracted 38 projects with an overall request for funding of US$ 3,000,000, as well as a significant participation of global institutions.

In July 2017, with the academic collaboration of all Uruguayan universities, the Fund organized the first winter school in education and technology (“EdTech Winter School: Emerging trends and new horizons in the study of education and technology”). Of the over 100 applicants, a group of students, researchers and policy-makers from Uruguay and 15 other countries were selected for participation in this event. It was attended by academics from prestigious universities such as Harvard, Oxford and MIT, among others. In July 2015, the Center for Research – Ceibal Foundation and the National Agency for Research and Innovation (Spanish acronym: ANII), launched the first Uruguayan Education Sector Fund “Digital Inclusion: Education with New Horizons.”

The topics of interest for the Fund go far beyond national borders. In line with this vision, the Center for Research – Ceibal Foundation and ANII invite other organizations to join the Fund. Financial contribution to the Fund is associated with participation in its Agenda Committee, a body that defines the priority thematic lines for each call. We invite organizations that are strongly committed to research and development in the area of digital inclusion, to join this initiative of strategic relevance.

If you want to receive information when the next call will be open register here: fundacion@ceibal.edu.uy