UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE CHILE

Their core work

Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH) is a major Chilean public university that contributes scientific expertise to international research consortia across a notably wide range of disciplines — from nanotechnology and computational mathematics to geophysics and public health. In H2020, USACH primarily participates through MSCA-RISE staff exchange programmes, providing Latin American research capacity and access to regional populations and environments. Their work spans magnetic nanostructures for cancer diagnostics, CO2 geological storage mechanics, planet formation astrophysics, and diabetes interventions targeting vulnerable populations in Latin America.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

USACH's early H2020 involvement (2017-2018) centred on fundamental science — computational network theory and nanotechnology for medical diagnostics. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted toward applied earth sciences (CO2 storage geomechanics), clinical health interventions (diabetes in Latin American populations), and astrophysics. The trend is a move from lab-scale fundamental research toward problems with direct societal and environmental relevance.

USACH is expanding from fundamental physics and mathematics toward applied geoscience and health research with a strong Latin American regional dimension, making them increasingly relevant for climate and global health consortia needing Southern Hemisphere partners.

How they like to work

USACH joins consortia exclusively as a partner or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. With 67 unique partners across 20 countries, they connect to a broad European network through MSCA-RISE mobility schemes. This profile suggests a reliable contributor that brings complementary expertise and Latin American access rather than driving project management, ideal for consortia seeking international reach without expecting coordination responsibilities.

USACH has collaborated with 67 unique partners across 20 countries, a remarkably wide network for an institution with only 5 projects — reflecting the large consortium sizes typical of MSCA-RISE actions. Their geographic reach bridges Europe and Latin America.

What sets them apart

USACH's distinctive value lies in being a gateway to Latin American research environments and populations within European consortia. Very few H2020 participants offer this combination: serious multidisciplinary scientific capacity (physics, mathematics, geoscience, health) plus direct access to LMIC populations and Southern Hemisphere field conditions. For any consortium needing a credible Latin American partner with broad scientific depth, USACH is a proven and well-connected choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• DIABFRAIL-LATAM
  Their only directly funded H2020 project, addressing the critical intersection of diabetes, frailty, and health inequality in Latin American vulnerable populations — a topic with growing EU global health priority.
• DISCO2 STORE
  Their most recent project (2021-2025), signalling a strategic move into CO2 storage geomechanics — a field with strong funding momentum under the European Green Deal.
• MAGNAMED
  Demonstrates USACH's materials science capability, applying magnetic nanostructure physics to cancer diagnostics — bridging fundamental physics with medical application.