Government announces selected projects from special fund for sargassum research

Santo Domingo.- The Santo Domingo Institute of Technology (INTEC) unveiled the results of the first call for projects funded by the Presidential Special Fund for Scientific and Technological Innovation and Development on sargassum, created in 2023 to address the algae’s environmental, social, and economic impact on Dominican coasts.

Through this initiative, the government will allocate RD$59.2 million to finance nine research projects from five universities, selected from 30 proposals evaluated by the Sargassum Committee, coordinated by INTEC with participation from academia, ministries, and the tourism sector. Vice Minister of International Cooperation Olaya Dotel reaffirmed the State’s commitment to invest US$1 million in this line of research, underscoring the challenge posed by sargassum.

INTEC’s interim rector, Alliet Ortega, stressed that most projects focus on valorization and practical uses of sargassum, demonstrating the potential of collaboration between government, academia, and private enterprise. Selected initiatives include the development of biofuels, sunscreens, agricultural inputs, construction materials, and monitoring technologies. INTEC will oversee the research, requiring annual progress updates and final reports to ensure the results translate into viable solutions for the country and the wider region.