INTEC is moving towards becoming the first Dominican center for research and innovation in advanced manufacturing and semiconductors
The university develops an agenda of research, training, and international cooperation in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, which includes partnerships with EATON, Purdue University, IEEE, and the U.S. State Department
SANTO DOMINGO - The Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), the first Dominican university with engineering programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), strengthens its research and development agenda linked to the semiconductor, microchip and advanced manufacturing industry in the Dominican Republic.
Since 2024, INTEC has been promoting actions to develop national capabilities in research, talent training and linkage between university, industry and Government around semiconductors, a sector declared of high national priority by President Luis Abinader, through Decree 324-24.
As part of that strategy, an INTEC delegation headed by its rector, Arturo Del Villar, participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States Department of State, with the objective of learning about international models of research, development and innovation applied to advanced manufacturing and the semiconductor industry.
The mission is part of the university's efforts to structure a research, development and innovation center focused on generating technological capabilities in areas related to advanced manufacturing, technology transfer and semiconductors.
“This mission allowed us to verify that countries transforming their economies do not do so in isolation, but rather build ecosystems where universities, businesses, and government work toward a common purpose. At INTEC, we want to take those experiences and turn them into concrete capabilities for the Dominican Republic,” said Del Villar.
The rector stated that the challenge for the Dominican Republic and the Central American region lies in moving from the adoption of technology to the capacity to research, develop, and transform it into innovation and productivity. “That is the goal we have set for ourselves with the first Dominican center for research, development, and innovation,” Del Villar indicated.
A semiconductor agenda initiated in 2024
Participation in the IVLP is part of an institutional agenda that INTEC has been developing since 2024 around the semiconductor and microchip industry in the Dominican Republic.
In August of that year, INTEC and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) established a working group to evaluate the capabilities and infrastructure available in the country and to support the training of teachers and students linked to the sector.
Two months later, INTEC signed a collaboration agreement with Purdue University to promote research in microelectronics and semiconductors and to facilitate access for students, professors and researchers to laboratories, technical resources and joint projects.
The university also partnered with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and SMEs (MICM) and the Dominican Association of Free Zones (Adozona) to promote a community of professionals specializing in semiconductors with the support of international experts.
These initiatives are complemented by the alliance between INTEC and Eaton, which in August 2026 gave rise to the Eaton Supply Chain Innovation Academy by INTEC, a program focused on strengthening capabilities in planning, strategic sourcing, logistics, operations, innovation, and data analysis. This initiative expands the university's connection with the productive sector in areas related to advanced manufacturing and supply chain management, essential components for the development of highly complex technology industries.
These actions seek to strengthen the capabilities that the Dominican Republic requires to participate in different segments of the semiconductor value chain, including research and development, integrated circuit design, advanced manufacturing, talent development and technology transfer.
INTEC's participation in semiconductor research projects will also allow it to align its efforts with the Dominican government's initiatives in science, technology, and innovation, leveraging additional resources and funding to support the country's technological development.
International models for research and advanced manufacturing
INTEC's delegation to the IVLP included Rector Arturo Del Villar; Academic Vice-Rector Shajira Nazir; and Chief of Staff Samuel Bonilla Bogaert. The delegation participated in a program from June 13-24 in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Georgia, and Phoenix, Arizona.
During the tour, he held meetings with representatives from Georgia Tech, Arizona State University, the Arizona Commerce Authority, and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, among other organizations related to research, innovation, and technological development.
The exchanges addressed funding models for research centers, training of specialized talent, supply chains, technology transfer, and collaboration mechanisms between universities, companies, and governments.
Del Villar highlighted the Arizona Commerce Authority model as a benchmark for articulating economic development, attracting investment, innovation, and participation of the productive sector.
Representatives from the National Congress, the Dominican Government, and companies related to technology, data storage, and logistics also participated in the mission.
About INTEC
El Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) is a Dominican institution of higher education of a private, non-profit nature, which since its founding in 1972 has stood out for its academic excellence and its contribution to the social transformation of the country through science and technology.