Selection of the Thematic Focus of a Multidisciplinary Research Center: the Ciinda Case

Abstract

Upon starting activities, the Center for Research, Innovation and Agroalimentary Development (Ciinda) had to define the course of the research in terms of the impact on the community and its sustainability in a scenario with many job and decision options. In this context, a research project was designed to select those alternatives that offered better prospects for development. Researchers from the Center worked together in a qualitative and inductive documentary research with the purpose of selecting one or more clusters focusing on their future work. As a result, three clusters of the 14 studied for Colombia were prioritized: fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy. Future research will be done in one or more links of the agroindustrial food chain —primary production, transformation and industrialization, commercialization to entrepreneurship—, with transverse axis of social impact on rural development, innovation, technology transfer and environmental sustainability. This approach is consistent with the mission purpose of La Salle University and with the expertise of different researchers from the Center. The activity will be networked with the community, companies, the State, unions, universities, technological, production and research development centers, and other participants.