Social Insertion

Social Insertion

Although the Graduate Program in Sciences (PG Ciências) is relatively “young,” it continues to expand its internationalization efforts, social initiatives—including engagement with primary and secondary education—and partnerships with companies and productive sectors in Brazil and abroad, thereby assuming a significant regional leadership role. Regarding technical-scientific output, the program stands out for publishing articles in journals with selective editorial policies, books/book chapters, as well as filing, granting, and licensing patents in Brazil and internationally. It also facilitates technology transfer of products, trains qualified professionals (master’s and doctoral graduates), and provides scientific consulting services to partner companies of the PPG Ciências.

Interaction with the Productive Sector

The relationship between students and faculty of PG Ciências and companies/industries has gained significant momentum in recent years, successfully securing financial resources, executing projects, and fostering collaboration with business sectors. This has led to product development and “technology transfer.”

Partnerships have been established with major companies, numerous patents have been filed, granted, and licensed (both in Brazil and abroad), and products have been developed and are still being commercialized. Additionally, projects such as PIPE (Innovative Research in Small Businesses – FAPESP), PITI (Partnership for Technological Innovation – FAPESP), and RHAE (Human Resources in Strategic Areas – Researcher in Industry – CNPq) have been funded by development agencies. Furthermore, a significant number of research grants from industry have supported undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral students.

PG Ciências has a partnership with SEBRAE-SP to foster an entrepreneurial culture in academia. Through the NIT (Technology Innovation Center, chaired by a PG Ciências faculty member), PG Ciências and UNIFRAN address regional demands from businesses and industries, aiming to promote socio-economic, scientific, and technological development in the city of Franca and the surrounding region.

Social Engagement and Basic Education

Faculty and graduate students from the Graduate Program in Sciences actively participate in the *”Cientizando”* project, which contributes to initiatives aimed at improving the education of students and teachers in public schools in Franca. Key themes such as *”Human Interventions and Environmental Imbalances”* and *”Energy Generation”* are used as motivational topics, and along with *”Science Fairs,”* they create an enriching scientific environment and encourage useful pedagogical strategies in the teaching-learning process.

The social outreach activities promoted by PG Ciências are coordinated by faculty members who are part of the University’s Social Engagement Committee (CIS). This committee holds monthly meetings with representatives from UNIFRAN’s graduate programs to plan extension activities carried out throughout the year. The social initiatives developed by PG Ciências for the Franca community and surrounding region have focused on socially relevant projects, such as the *”Medicinal Plants”* and *”Sustainable Franca Forum”* projects.

Interaction with the Agricultural Sector

PG Ciências has conducted research related to the agricultural sector. These studies are carried out in partnership with associations, cooperatives, companies, and producers to promote ecological pest management and the development of new technologies. The sustainable agricultural practices resulting from these partnerships are widely disseminated among family farmers, organic producers, and large-scale farmers in the Franca region. In addition to scientific publications, other initiatives—such as organizing events and training programs to share knowledge with farmers and interested parties—are also developed within the program.