UNIVERSIDAD MAYOR DE SAN SIMON

Their core work

Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS) is a major Bolivian public university based in Cochabamba, contributing regional expertise in natural hazard assessment, hydropower development, and Latin American health and social research to European consortia. Their work spans geohazard modeling for infrastructure resilience, mapping hydropower potential across developing countries, and investigating gallbladder cancer prevalence in Andean populations. UMSS serves as a critical South American knowledge node, providing local field data, case studies, and on-the-ground research capacity that European partners cannot access independently.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

UMSS entered H2020 through geohazard research (GEO-RAMP in 2015, HERCULES in 2018), focusing on landslide and flood modeling — natural concerns for Bolivia's mountainous terrain. From 2019 onward, their portfolio diversified sharply into hydropower energy solutions, cancer epidemiology, and critical urban/social studies across Latin America. This shift suggests a move from narrow engineering contributions toward broader development-oriented research where their regional position is a strategic asset.

UMSS is expanding from technical engineering support into multi-sector development research, positioning itself as the go-to Bolivian partner for EU projects needing South American field access and expertise.

How they like to work

UMSS exclusively participates as a partner or third party — never as coordinator — which is typical for non-EU institutions in Horizon 2020. They operate within large consortia (77 unique partners across 30 countries), joining different groups each time rather than repeating partnerships. This pattern indicates they are sought after as a regional access point rather than as a project driver, making them a reliable contributor who integrates smoothly into diverse teams.

UMSS has collaborated with 77 unique partners across 30 countries, giving them an unusually broad international network for a Bolivian university. Their connections span Europe, Latin America, and Africa — particularly valuable for projects requiring Global South field sites.

What sets them apart

UMSS offers something rare in H2020: a well-connected Bolivian university with proven experience across multiple EU research programmes and direct access to Andean field sites and populations. For any consortium needing Latin American case studies, local data collection, or community engagement in Bolivia, UMSS is one of very few institutions with a track record of successful EU project participation. Their combination of engineering, environmental, and social science capacity makes them versatile across sectors.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HYPOSO
  Their largest funded project (EUR 106,725), mapping hydropower potential across five developing countries — Bolivia, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uganda.
• CONTESTED_TERRITORY
  Tackles politically sensitive topics of extractivism, displacement, and social movements in Latin America — positions UMSS in critical development studies.
• EULAT Eradicate GBC
  Rare EU-Latin American health collaboration targeting gallbladder cancer in Andean populations, bridging European cohort data with underserved communities.