Jun 24, 2025
A high level delegation from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) took part in the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2025 (SRI 2025), one of the world’s leading gatherings focused on sustainability, research, and innovation and held in the U.S for the first time. The event brought together more than a thousand scientists, university leaders, government officials, business representatives, and civil society organizations from over 60 countries.
Inaugurated by Timothy Killeen, President of the University of Illinois System and JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, the Congress featured discussions on critical topics such as public policy, financing, education, and technological transitions.
In her remarks, Dr. Soledad Funes, UNAM’s Coordinator for Scientific Research, stated: “Sustainability cannot be achieved without strong integration between science, public policy, and communities—and it is our universities that must lead in building that bridge.” She emphasized that UNAM’s participation in this international forum reaffirms its commitment to the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.
Dr. William Lee Alardín, UNAM’s Vice Provost for International Affairs, added: “Hearing perspectives from around the world allows us to reflect on the possibilities, challenges, and obstacles we still face—and what we must do to turn education and technology into real solutions.”
UNAM took part in the panel “Mexico as a Catalyst for Collaboration in Sustainable Development,” organized by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), where ongoing initiatives were shared and new opportunities for institutional collaboration were identified.
For his part, William Lee highlighted that the connection with the University of Illinois System and the Discovery Partners Institute contributes to the advancement of projects aimed at finding regional and global solutions, both in the sciences and in areas related to technological development and innovation.
As part of the visit to Chicago, UNAM’s office in that city organized meetings with Ambassador Reyna Torres, Consul General of Mexico, who brought together representatives from 20 institutions of higher education and culture. In this regard, Soledad Funes commented that “there is great enthusiasm, commitment, and openness to continue working together for the benefit of academic communities, students, and more broadly, our countries.” William Lee emphasized that “identifying concrete opportunities for academic cooperation will benefit the Mexican and Latino community in the region.”
n other meetings with the vice presidents of research at the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago, Ka Yee and Joanna Groden, respectively, UNAM officials noted that the meetings represented “an extremely valuable opportunity to strengthen ties and open new avenues of cooperation.”
UNAM’s participation in SRI 2025 demonstrated its firm commitment to contributing to global solutions, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This conference marks a new phase of opportunities to strengthen joint initiatives that transcend borders.
