{"id":13832,"date":"2025-03-10T07:47:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T11:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=13832"},"modified":"2025-03-10T07:47:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T11:47:40","slug":"purdue-dominican-republic-chart-ambitious-path-for-strategic-collaboration-with-campus-visit-of-president-luis-abinader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/Q1\/purdue-dominican-republic-chart-ambitious-path-for-strategic-collaboration-with-campus-visit-of-president-luis-abinader","title":{"rendered":"Purdue, Dominican Republic chart ambitious path for strategic collaboration with campus visit of President Luis Abinader"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2014 Purdue University President Mung Chiang welcomed His Excellency President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic and an official delegation to Purdue\u2019s West Lafayette location on Thursday and Friday (March 6-7), reinforcing a dynamic and rapidly expanding collaboration between Purdue and the Dominican Republic, a strategic ally and neighbor to the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The partnership focuses on joint efforts to advance critical industries, including semiconductors and biotechnology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the visit, Chiang and Abinader engaged in strategic bilateral discussions to identify impactful opportunities for joint semiconductor research projects, student and faculty exchanges, and specialized workforce training programs. The leaders also discussed extending Purdue University Online\u2019s nation-leading programs in a variety of disciplines to students and working professionals in the Dominican Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The visiting delegation, which included members of Abinader\u2019s cabinet and key business leaders, toured Purdue\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/birck.research.purdue.edu\/\">Birck Nanotechnology Center<\/a>, renowned as a prominent national facility for research and innovation in semiconductors, nanotechnology and related fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The expanded collaboration strategically aligns Purdue\u2019s expertise as America\u2019s leading university in semiconductor workforce development, research and innovation with the Dominican Republic\u2019s vision to build robust, forward-looking industries that can effectively address global challenges, capitalize on near-shoring manufacturing trends, and develop highly skilled talent essential for sustainable economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPartnership with the Dominican Republic presents multiple opportunities for Purdue faculty and students: from student exchange programs and online learning growth to collaboration in research and innovation across microelectronics, biotech and agriculture,\u201d Chiang said. \u201cThe visit by President Abinader and the delegation of leaders from government and industry has elevated this partnership to a new level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"876\" height=\"493\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chiang_DR_delegation.jpg\" alt=\"Purdue University leaders, including President Mung Chiang, stand with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader.\" class=\"wp-image-13831\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chiang_DR_delegation.jpg 876w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chiang_DR_delegation-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chiang_DR_delegation-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Purdue leadership, led by President Mung Chiang, hosted Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and an official delegation on campus March 6-7 to fortify the expanding collaboration between the two partners to advance critical industries. (Purdue University photo\/Kelsey Lefever)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In July 2024, Purdue and the Dominican Republic formalized their growing relationship by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/Q3\/purdue-dominican-republic-enter-agreement-to-drive-semiconductor-growth\/\">signing a memorandum of understanding<\/a> with the Dominican Republic\u2019s Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (micro-, small and medium enterprises), whose minister Victor (Ito) Bisono joined Abinader on this visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The agreement focuses on accelerating the Dominican Republic\u2019s capabilities in semiconductor manufacturing and biotechnology sectors, with Purdue taking a lead role in establishing tailored workforce development programs and industry-focused initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the partnership, Purdue is currently conducting comprehensive assessments of the Dominican Republic\u2019s semiconductor workforce needs, providing crucial input to the development of a strategic road map for enhancing the nation\u2019s capabilities across critical stages of semiconductor design, manufacturing, assembly, packaging, and testing, and supporting the emergence of the biotechnology sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abinader highlighted the transformative potential of the collaboration, stating, \u201cStrengthening our semiconductor industry and fostering innovation in biotechnology are central to our national strategy. By partnering with Purdue, we are investing in our most valuable resource \u2014 our people \u2014 while creating pathways for economic growth and scientific advancement. This key strategic partnership will help us build the robust human capital needed to attract global investments and forge meaningful international collaborations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n    <div  class=\"purdue-home-quick-links-static \">\n        <div class=\"tagged-header-container\">\n\n            <h2 class=\"tagged-header\"><span>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION<\/span><\/h2>\n        \n        <\/div>\n\n       <ul class=\"quick-links-content\">\n                                        <li class=\"quick-link__item\">\n                                                                <a class=\"quick-link__link\"\n                                    href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/Q3\/purdue-dominican-republic-enter-agreement-to-drive-semiconductor-growth\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    Purdue, Dominican Republic enter agreement to drive semiconductor growth                                <\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"quick-link__item\">\n                                                                <a class=\"quick-link__link\"\n                                    href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/Q3\/purdue-enters-3-agreements-with-european-partners-to-accelerate-research-and-education\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    Purdue enters 3 agreements with European partners to accelerate research and education                                <\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"quick-link__item\">\n                                                                <a class=\"quick-link__link\"\n                                    href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/Q3\/partnerships-with-malaysian-universities-focus-on-ai-data-science\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    Partnerships with Malaysian universities focus on AI, data science                                <\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"quick-link__item\">\n                                                                <a class=\"quick-link__link\"\n                                    href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/Q3\/educational-partnership-unites-purdue-with-colombian-universities-alliance\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n                                    Educational partnership unites Purdue with Colombian universities\u2019 alliance                                <\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, 15 students from the Dominican Republic are enrolled at Purdue, predominantly pursuing undergraduate degrees, highlighting existing academic ties and underscoring opportunities for increased bidirectional student mobility. These students met with Abinader and enthusiastically shared their Purdue experiences with the visiting delegation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The partnership supports Purdue\u2019s strategic initiatives, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/computes\/\">Purdue Computes<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/onehealth\/\">One Health<\/a>, which emphasize universitywide excellence in semiconductors, biotechnology and interdisciplinary research to address pressing global challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Purdue\u2019s commitment to international collaboration is widely recognized. Over the past 18 months, the university has significantly expanded its global footprint, establishing new strategic partnerships and agreements with institutions and governments in Belgium, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Greece, the U.K., Panama, Indonesia and other international academic and industry leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Purdue University<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our&nbsp;main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility,&nbsp;Purdue\u2019s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap \u2014 including its comprehensive urban expansion, the&nbsp;Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the&nbsp;One Health initiative&nbsp;\u2014 at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/president\/strategic-initiatives\">https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/president\/strategic-initiatives<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"note\" class=\"post-content__attribution \">\n    <div class=\"columns\"> \n                    <div class=\"column\"> \n                <p class=\"post-content__source\">\n                    <strong>Media contact:<\/strong> Wes Mills, <a href=\"mailto:wemills@purdue.edu\">wemills@purdue.edu<\/a>                <\/p>\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2014 Purdue University President Mung Chiang welcomed His Excellency President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic and an official delegation to Purdue\u2019s West Lafayette location on Thursday and Friday (March 6-7), reinforcing a dynamic and rapidly expanding<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":13829,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"department":[],"source":[29],"purdue_today_topic":[],"coauthors":[41],"class_list":["post-13832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","source-purdue-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13832"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13842,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13832\/revisions\/13842"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13832"},{"taxonomy":"department","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/department?post=13832"},{"taxonomy":"source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/source?post=13832"},{"taxonomy":"purdue_today_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/purdue_today_topic?post=13832"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=13832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}