The university's research department and the Italian Network for the assessment of public research (NETVAL) held a course on technology and transfer of knowledge. The course was attended by renowned researchers who are members of the network; it was aimed at all the coordinators of the research groups in Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca. NETVAL is a network made up by 56 Italian universities and 6 public research institutions, its aim is to assess university research in the economy and business sector.

The network is known for holding relevant courses for researchers, such as: transfer of technology, industrial property, procedures and different organization models, assessment of industrial property. The course took place in Cuenca's Baguanchi Convention Center from February 20 – 23 and was entirely in English. The speakers were:

• Ph.D. Riccardo Barbieri, Universitá della Calabria 
 • Ph.D. Shiva Loccisano, Politécnico di Torino
 • Ph.D. Monia Gentile, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna de Pisa
 • Ph.D. Alessandra Baccigotti, Universitá de Bologna Alma Mater  

Riccardo Barberi spoke about the importance of intelectual property, he explained the difference between the process of getting patents for research projects and technology proposals generated by these projects. Technologies are very changeable and it is fundamental for researchers to acquire some added value for their projects, considering the impact the projects should have on the development of society and the improvement of production processes in the industry. 

Pablo Perez, coordinator of research in the university's branch campus in Guayaquil, said this course will give UPS researchers new opportunities to optimize their work in the transfer of knowledge and develop ideas within the Ecuadorian context. "One of the biggest challenges for researchers is to get students involved in research groups and help in projects", said Perez.

uan Pablo Salgado, head of research at UPS, highlighted the participation and commitment of all the coordinators who attended and said he was sure that now they will transmit all the information and knowledge they have acquired to the rest of the members. Maria Isabel Carpio, coordinator of research assessment at UPS, said that participants of the course will be awarded certificates signed by Netval and Universidad Politecnica Salesiana.