Science Trust Backs Reshoring Through Private Sector R&D

The Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust (PRSTR) announced the latest batch of grantees of its Catalyzer program, which funds the early stages of research. PRSTR CEO Lucy Crespo announced that the trust had selected 16 projects to each receive $70,000, for a total of $1.2 million.

The selected projects span areas including medical devices, biotechnology and life sciences, clean technologies and renewable energy, environmental sciences, and electronics. Research topics include development of portable systems for continuous asthma monitoring; antiviral molecules designed to target multiple viruses, including those responsible for COVID-19 and dengue; new therapies for pancreatic and breast cancer; air quality monitoring in Puerto Rico; research into brain mechanisms associated with motivation and decision-making; security chips for battery-free smart devices; and the genetic diversity of tarantulas endemic to Puerto Rico.

R&D as Economic Strategy

“At the Trust, we have a mantra that in Puerto Rico we need to increase the level of investment made in research and development,” Crespo said during the Catalyzer award ceremony.

Beyond expanding knowledge, Crespo argued that increasing scientific research on the island is also about strengthening the economy by expanding manufacturing capacity. The distinction is critical as companies pursue reshoring: the science trust is positioning Puerto Rico not just to welcome traditional manufacturing back from abroad, but to anchor new facilities with locally conducted research.

“We are working with private companies so that, as they engage in reshoring efforts, they don’t just bring back traditional manufacturing; we are moving to the next level by expanding that value chain to include private-sector research and development as well,” Crespo said.

“Grants like Catalyzer help fund student aid that has become scarcer due to budget cuts to the university.”

UPR Professor José Rivera

The Catalyzer grant is designed not to cover the full cost of research, but rather to cover the initial costs needed to launch a project. This may include preliminary experiments that generate replicable results, addressing concerns or feedback from federal agency reviewers or academic journals, among other milestones.

“The grant’s contribution is being that first stone, that first step so that researchers can advance their science and subsequently secure more funding to continue conducting science in Puerto Rico, because excellent science is done here,” said Carmen Ortíz Sanchez, a former grantee and assistant professor at Ponce Health Sciences University.

Building Competitive Edge and Local Talent

The ultimate goal for many of the PRSTR grants, including Catalyzer, is to make research projects created in Puerto Rico more competitive when applying for funding from federal agencies, academic competitions, or philanthropic institutions.

Several grantees highlighted the importance of providing opportunities for students and post-doctoral researchers, noting that such funding helps sustain the research community and the pipelines that feed Puerto Rico’s growing bioscience sector.

Imilce Rodríguez, former grantee and assistant professor at the University of Puerto Rico, explained that the funding she received supported research and experiments that led to three academic papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The grant also helped her fund student support, which she emphasized is critical to retaining talent on the island.

“Grants like Catalyzer help fund student aid that has become scarcer due to budget cuts to the university,” said José M. Rivera, a professor from UPR who is a grantee in the current round. Rivera is developing artificial catalysts that can accelerate two important chemical reactions used in producing anti-cancer drugs.