Regulations of the Institute for Research in Engineering (INII)

The Institute for Research in Engineering (INII) belongs to the Faculty of Engineering and is attached to the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research of the University of Costa Rica. It is a multidisciplinary unit devoted to research in Engineering, Architecture, Computing, and Informatics.

INII is a UCR institute in the field of engineering that, through research and its connection with social action and teaching, contributes novel knowledge that leads to innovative solutions to national and regional problems faced by public institutions, companies, and communities, helping build a society resilient to future challenges.

The Institute aspires to be a benchmark in engineering research and social action, recognized as a national and regional leader in the generation of knowledge and innovative technologies produced with ethics, integrity, and participation that promote the social, environmental, and economic development of societies.

With lines of action framed within research, development, and innovation (R&D+i), INII seeks to respond to the country’s conditions, priorities, and needs. To achieve this, the following objectives are established:

1) Actively contribute to the scientific and technological development of the country through research in Engineering, Architecture, Computing, and Informatics.

2) Train human resources through scientific work, seminars, and publications, or through the instruction of undergraduate and graduate students.

3) Contribute to the training of technical groups and specialists through continuing-education and service courses.

4) Carry out research or social action projects with internal, external-linkage, or mixed funds to solve specific problems of government agencies, autonomous institutions, private companies, and individuals.

5) Provide services in areas inherent to research in Engineering, Architecture, Computing, and Informatics.

6) Publish and disseminate the knowledge generated from the results of research projects, programs, and activities.

7) Develop activities and projects considered priorities for the Institute, as defined in its current strategic plan, jointly with other units, centers, institutes, or organizations.

The Institute for Research in Engineering is organized as follows:

a) The Directorate, which coordinates with the Advisory Council and the Scientific Council.

b) The Advisory Council.

c) The Scientific Council.

d) The laboratories and internal research units:

1) Earthquake Engineering Laboratory (LIS).

2) Control Engineering Research Laboratory (CERLab).

3) Hydraulic and Coastal Engineering Laboratory:

a) Maritime, River and Estuary Engineering Unit (iMARES).

b) Hydraulics and River Engineering Unit.

4) Research and Measurement Solutions Unit (Metrikõ).

5) Forest Resources Unit (REFORESTA).

6) Autonomous Robots and Cognitive Systems Research Laboratory (ARCOSLab).

e) Support units:

1) Documentation and Information Center (CEDI).

2) Design and Audiovisual Support Center (CEDAA).

The organizational structure, its functions, and all other aspects of INII organization shall be governed by applicable institutional regulations. Modifications to its specific internal structure shall be governed by the University of Costa Rica Research Regulations and resolutions of the Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council is the body responsible for establishing the general guidelines of the Institute. It shall meet in ordinary session at least three times per year and extraordinarily whenever required. It may hold a session when at least one half plus one of all its members participate. Decisions shall be taken by absolute majority of the votes present. Proxy voting is not permitted. The Advisory Council shall prioritize in-person sessions; however, sessions may also be held virtually when convenient for its members and in accordance with the Regulations for Virtual Sessions of Collegiate Bodies of the University of Costa Rica.

The Advisory Council is responsible for establishing the general guidelines of the Institute and has the following functions:

a) Decide on the guidelines, strategic and operational plans, and specific research lines of the Institute proposed by the Scientific Council.

b) Promote programs and projects, as well as activities supporting research, that improve the Institute’s capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness and its projection into teaching and social action.

c) Elect, in a joint session of the Advisory Council expanded with the Scientific Council, the person who will serve as Director and the person who will serve as Deputy Director. Only members belonging to the academic rank system may vote in this election.

d) Issue guidelines and receive the periodic evaluations performed by the INII Directorate.

e) Appoint two researchers attached to INII to serve on the Scientific Council for a two-year renewable term. They must belong to the academic rank system, hold at least the rank of associate professor, and participate in a program or project duly registered with the Institute.

f) Discuss, suggest, and approve modifications to work proposals or projects submitted by the INII Directorate.

g) Review the Institute’s annual report before it is sent to the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research.

h) Approve the budget proposal prepared by the Institute Directorate.

i) Propose to the Directorate changes to the internal regulations and strategic plan before they are sent to the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research.

j) Review and decide on modifications to the Unit’s infrastructure and the allocation of physical space.

k) Advise the Directorate on all matters required for the proper operation of the Institute.

l) Define the creation, modification, or elimination of laboratories and internal research or support units referred to in Article 5, subsection d).

The Institute’s Advisory Council is composed as follows:

a) The Director of the Institute for Research in Engineering, who chairs it.

b) The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.

c) The Deputy Director of the Institute for Research in Engineering.

d) One representative of the graduate programs in the Engineering Area. This person shall be elected by the Engineering Area Graduate Council for a non-renewable two-year term, shall hold at least the rank of associate professor, and shall not be part of the research staff attached to INII. Representation shall rotate, and the order of rotation shall be established by the Dean of the Graduate Studies System.

e) One researcher attached to the Institute, selected by the Scientific Council for a renewable two-year term. The person shall hold at least the rank of associate professor and have experience in research programs, projects, or support activities, or in activities related to social action.

f) One representative of the Engineering Area, who shall hold at least the rank of associate professor, have experience in research programs, projects, or support activities, and not be part of the research staff attached to the Institute. This person shall be appointed by the Engineering Area Council for a renewable two-year term.

The academic-rank requirement established in subsections d), e), and f) may be waived in cases of demonstrated lack of eligible candidates if at least 75 percent of the members of each body referred to in those subsections so agree.

The Scientific Council is the body responsible for defining, coordinating, and regulating INII’s scientific activities. It shall meet whenever necessary at the request of the Institute Directorate. It may hold a session when at least one half plus one of all its members participate. Decisions shall be taken by absolute majority of the votes present. Proxy voting is not permitted.

The Scientific Council shall prioritize in-person sessions; however, sessions may also be held virtually when convenient for its members and in accordance with the Regulations for Virtual Sessions of Collegiate Bodies of the University of Costa Rica.

The functions of the Scientific Council are:

a) Safeguard the excellence and relevance of programs and projects, as well as research-support activities carried out at INII.

b) Propose to the Advisory Council the guidelines, strategic plans, operational plans, research lines, standards, and research procedures in accordance with these Regulations and the policies issued by the University Council.

c) Evaluate, follow up, and advise the attached research staff using criteria based on academic production.

d) Approve the affiliation or separation of research staff when, in the latter case and after due process, the competent authorities determine that duties and responsibilities within the research process have been breached.

e) Approve the incorporation of visiting staff and undergraduate, graduate, or visiting students.

f) Review, evaluate, approve, or reject programs, projects, research-support activities, and social action projects based on the instruments designed by the corresponding vice-rector’s office.

g) Analyze whether the budget, academic workload, or work schedule is consistent with the proposed research or social action initiative and make the pertinent recommendations to the corresponding unit director regarding approval of research or social action time.

h) Evaluate progress reports for programs, research-support activities, and social action projects, whether partial or final, in accordance with the evaluation criteria defined by the corresponding vice-rector’s office.

i) Inform the appropriate authorities of cases of noncompliance by researchers.

j) Decide on extensions to the duration of programs, projects, research-support activities, and social action projects using the instruments defined by the corresponding vice-rector’s office.

k) Decide on the closure of previously approved programs, projects, research-support activities, and social action projects. When a project is closed, a detailed report shall be submitted to the corresponding vice-rector’s office, which shall take the appropriate action.

l) Review and approve programs, projects, research-support activities, and social action projects, as well as partial and final reports approved by external funding entities, before they are sent to the corresponding vice-rector’s office for registration.

m) Refer programs and projects to the Scientific Ethics Committee (CEC) when applicable and when they involve research with human beings. In such cases, the researcher shall accompany the proposal with the respective Informed Consent document.

n) Verify that publications by research staff identify the entity where the project was carried out and the academic unit that assigned the academic workload or work schedule, as well as the university entities that approved the work as part of programs, projects, research-support activities, or social action projects.

ñ) Appoint one researcher attached to the Institute as its representative to the Advisory Council for a renewable two-year term.

o) Review, analyze, and make appropriate recommendations concerning the signing of institutional cooperation contracts or agreements as part of research programs, projects, research-support activities, or social action projects.

p) Review, approve, or reject ordinary or extraordinary budgets for projects, programs, research-support activities, and social action projects when consistent with the proposed research, or otherwise make the appropriate recommendations.

q) Elect, in a joint session of the Advisory Council expanded with the Scientific Council, the person who will serve as Director and the person who will serve as Deputy Director.

The Scientific Council is composed as follows:

a) The Institute Director, who chairs it.

b) The Institute Deputy Director.

c) Two researchers selected by INII’s attached research staff for a two-year renewable term. They must belong to the academic rank system, hold at least the rank of associate professor, and participate in a program or project registered with INII. These two persons shall be appointed through an election of the attached staff convened by the Institute Directorate for that purpose. The meeting may be held in person or virtually as convenient. Decisions shall be taken by absolute majority of the votes present. Proxy voting is not permitted.

d) One representative of the graduate programs in the Engineering Area. This person shall be elected by the Engineering Area Graduate Council for a non-renewable two-year term, belong to the academic rank system, hold at least the rank of associate professor, and not be part of the research staff attached to INII. Representation shall rotate, and the order of rotation shall be established by the Dean of the Graduate Studies System.

e) Two representatives of INII’s attached research staff who belong to the academic rank system and hold at least the rank of associate professor. They shall be selected by the Advisory Council for a two-year renewable term.

The academic-rank requirement established in subsections c), d), and e) may be waived in cases of demonstrated lack of eligible candidates if at least 75 percent of the votes present in the meeting referred to in subsection c), or 75 percent of the members of each body referred to in subsections d) and e), so agree.

The Directorate is INII’s highest authority and shall be elected by the Advisory Council expanded with the Scientific Council in a session specially convened for that purpose. The person serving as Director shall meet the requirements established in Articles 91 and 126 of the Organic Statute of the University of Costa Rica and shall also hold a doctoral degree in one of the fields of Engineering, Architecture, Computer Science, or Informatics.

The election shall be held one month before the end of the term of the sitting Director by those members of the Advisory Council expanded with the Scientific Council who belong to the academic rank system, in accordance with the University of Costa Rica Research Regulations. The term shall be four years, with the possibility of one immediate reelection.

According to Article 24 of the University of Costa Rica Research Regulations, to cover temporary absences of the Director for the duration of such absences, the Advisory Council expanded with the Scientific Council shall elect a Deputy Director in a session specially convened for this purpose. The term shall be two years, with the possibility of one immediate reelection. The person holding this position shall meet the same requirements established for the Director under Articles 91 and 126 of the Organic Statute of the University of Costa Rica.

The person serving as Director of INII shall devote the full time of the appointment to management duties. If the Director wishes to teach during part or all of the appointment period, this shall be reported to the corresponding academic unit and vice-rector’s offices. The Director may participate in research or social action projects, but without academic workload while serving as Director.

The INII Directorate has the following functions:

a) Promote and foster the academic development of the Unit through the management of scientific and research activity.

b) Implement the rules, agreements, and recommendations issued by higher authorities in research matters.

c) Implement the rules and agreements issued by the Advisory Council, as applicable.

d) Exercise the authority of immediate hierarchical superior over the staff.

e) Convene and chair meetings of the Advisory Council and Scientific Council.

f) Prepare and propose the strategic plan and annual operational plan to the Advisory Council.

g) Present the annual activity report to the Advisory Council.

h) Report to the appropriate authorities any irregularities committed by INII staff.

i) Appoint committees to study matters pertaining to INII.

j) Maintain, together with the Scientific Council, active communication with the national and international community to stimulate research, teaching, and their interaction with social action.

k) Ensure that Institute equipment and other assets are maintained in optimal condition.

l) Carry out any other activity not mentioned in these Regulations that is inherent to the exercise of the Directorate’s functions.

m) Serve on the Faculty Advisory Council and the Area Council.

The laboratories and internal research units form part of the Institute’s basic organization. Each shall have a coordinator who is part of that laboratory or unit and is appointed by the INII Directorate upon proposal by the staff of the laboratory or internal unit, for the period deemed appropriate, to perform the following functions:

a) Serve as liaison between the research staff of the laboratory or internal research unit and the Directorate.

b) Maintain active communication with the work team to stimulate research, teaching, and their interaction with social action.

c) Promote and foster the academic development of the laboratory through management of scientific activity.

d) Ensure the proper operation of the laboratory and coordination of the activities carried out within it.

e) Chair coordination meetings of the laboratory or internal research unit.

f) Provide, at the request of the Directorate, information related to the work carried out within the laboratory or internal research unit when required.

g) Follow up on the Strategic Plan of the laboratory or internal research unit under the coordinator’s responsibility.

Each laboratory or internal research unit shall regularly hold coordination meetings to organize activities, address specific situations, or present proposals for new projects, research-support activities, or social action for an initial assessment before submission to the Institute Directorate. This does not prevent researchers from submitting new proposals directly to the INII Directorate if, for a justified reason, the coordination could not review them beforehand.

Staff shall be distributed into the following groups:

a) Attached staff: Researchers who participate in at least one program or project, a research-support activity, or social action activities duly approved by the INII Scientific Council. When a person’s position belongs to the staffing structure of a school, faculty, or administrative unit other than INII, the corresponding authorization shall be required for the academic workload or work schedule assigned to research in order to become attached to INII. Persons appointed ad honorem or holding emeritus status may also be attached and, under that condition, shall comply with the collaboration plan agreed with the INII Director. Selection of attached research staff shall be carried out by the Scientific Council based on the following criteria:

i. Academic training: The academic degree shall be a doctorate or master’s degree; only in highly qualified cases shall researchers under other conditions be accepted.

ii. Scientific production and research experience.

iii. The program, project, research-support activity, or social action project to be developed meets the criteria of academic excellence and relevance required by INII according to its current strategic plan.

iv. Affinity between the researcher’s interests, as well as the proposal, and INII’s research lines and objectives.

b) Visiting staff: Researchers employed by other national or foreign institutions who, at their own request or by express invitation of INII, join the University to participate in its programs, projects, research-support activities, or social action projects for defined periods and with prior authorization of the Scientific Council. Foreign visitors shall sign an agreement with the University and obtain medical insurance and repatriation-of-remains coverage for accident, illness, or other eventualities during their stay at the University.

c) Administrative staff: All administrative and technical staff of the Institute who support activities complementary to research and social action. Professional administrative staff may participate as researchers in programs, projects, or research-support activities. The portion of the work schedule devoted to research may not exceed one quarter of the total schedule and shall be endorsed by the INII Directorate, provided that the work responds to the interests and objectives of the Institute and complies with the University of Costa Rica Research Regulations.

As an exception, administrative staff hired with external-linkage funds, as well as persons working in positions belonging directly to INII, may devote more than one quarter of their total work schedule to research. In both cases, the schedule, activities, and dedication shall be defined by the director of the corresponding unit.

d) Student population: Undergraduate, graduate, or visiting students who participate and contribute, as part of their educational process, in a program, project, research-support activity, or social action project registered with the Institute, whether ad honorem, through assistant or student hours, or by carrying out final graduation projects at INII.

In all cases, the nature of participation, obligations, responsibilities, and rights of the parties involved in the research shall be established. For this purpose, the person directing the Unit shall first consult the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research and, if required, the Office of International Affairs and External Cooperation so that the necessary form of formalization can be defined.

Attached research staff, administrative staff, and University students are covered by institutional insurance. Visiting staff and visiting students, when required, shall obtain medical insurance and repatriation-of-remains coverage so that they are protected in the event of accident, illness, or other eventuality during their stay at the University.

A researcher is a person who, in fulfillment of university duties, develops or actively participates in a program, project, or research-support activity. Such persons shall be designated as:

a) Principal researcher.

b) Associate researcher.

c) Collaborating researcher.

The functions and responsibilities assumed by these persons in the research process are established in the University of Costa Rica Research Regulations.

Research staff interested in developing a research or social action proposal, regardless of the source of funding, shall submit the project to the Institute Directorate, preferably with prior approval from the coordination of the laboratory or internal research unit to which the researcher belongs, in order to ensure that its objectives are aligned with the current Strategic Plan.

The Scientific Council shall evaluate the relevance and content of the proposals in accordance with university regulations and the procedures established by the corresponding vice-rector’s offices, and shall subsequently issue a decision that will be communicated to the responsible person.

Any matter not provided for in these Regulations shall be resolved in accordance with the Organic Statute of the University of Costa Rica, the University of Costa Rica Research Regulations, and any other applicable institutional regulations in force.

These Regulations repeal the Regulations of the Institute for Research in Engineering and their amendments, approved by the UCR Rector’s Office through Resolution R-8307-2007 of December 7, 2007, and published in Supplement to La Gaceta Universitaria 9-2007 of January 16, 2008.