UPM and the Technical University of Uruguay sign agreement on new regional university in Fray Bentos

UPM and the Technological University of Uruguay have signed an agreement to build a new Regional Technological University (ITR) in Fray Bentos to advance technical skills and engineering expertise in rural Uruguay. The regional university will specialize in mechatronics, renewable energy, transport and logistics.

The region is home to a community of over 4,000 students who will now be able to complete university studies without having to leave their hometowns. The construction of the Fray Bentos ITR is estimated to take 14 months.

“This investment is a token of UPM’s commitment to Uruguay. It shows how our company strengthens the communities in which it operates by supporting education and the development of the local forestry sector. We are happy to announce this cooperation now that UPM is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Uruguay,” says Juha Kääriäinen, Vice President of UPM’s Uruguay Operations.

“Being able to hire highly qualified local talent is very important to us. This investment in education will create further development opportunities for generations to come, enhancing the overall competitiveness of the forest industry in Uruguay in the future,” adds Kääriäinen.

Under the agreement, UPM will fund the university, which will be based on a cooperative model between industry and the academia, maximizing mutual benefit from each other’s capabilities. Students will be able to participate in internships and hands-on training in the Uruguayan agro-industrial sector. Both parties will encourage UPM technicians and professionals to participate in Fray Bentos ITR courses. UPM and UTEC will also work on joint R&D projects.