Budget Boost for Science, Technology, and Innovation (CTI)
The Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved the 2026 Federal Expenditure Budget (PEF), totaling 10.19 billion pesos, with a reallocation of 177.88 million pesos for strategic sectors, including an increase in spending for Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (CTI).
Diputado Eruviel Ávila, president of the CTI Commission, proposed a reserve to raise the sector’s budget from 348.6 million pesos to 373.6 million pesos, which was accepted, representing a 25 million pesos increase for Ramo 38 corresponding to the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (SECIHTI).
Investment vs. Spending: A Long-term Perspective
Ávila emphasized, “In science and technology, we invest because every peso returns multiplied in jobs, technological autonomy, industrial development, and applied research.” He added that this investment would provide “financial viability” to the initiatives of the ‘Mexico, a country of innovation’ program.
“These initiatives will be development, sovereignty, and well-being drivers, enabling Mexico to produce electric vehicles, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, satellites, and much more domestically,” Ávila concluded.
Lack of Dialogue and Transparency
Despite the budget increase, concerns linger over the final destination of these funds. The PEF 2026 approval occurred without formal and public meetings with the lower chamber’s committees, where researchers and sector leaders could present and debate the gremio’s specific and urgent needs.
Due to the absence of dialogue spaces, several members of the scientific community opted to send formal letters to legislators, exposing the precarious operational situation of strategic institutions.
An example is the letter sent to Diputados Eruviel Ávila and Kenia López Rabadán, president of the Chamber of Deputies, by Dr. Fernando Fabián Rosales Ortega from the astrophysics coordination of the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics (INAOE).
Urgent Needs at INAOE
Dr. Rosales Ortega highlighted the emergency situation at INAOE, stating that the Gran Telescopio Milimétrico (GTM), a unique worldwide instrument, has no budget allocated for 2026. The GTM, which received international awards like the Breakthrough in Fundamental Physics and the Einstein Medal for its work on the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), requires a minimal fraction of the reallocated resources to ensure its operation.
He urged that, in addition to strengthening UNAM, the operation of the 26 Public Research Centers (CPI) under SECIHTI should be guaranteed. These CPIs are “the driving force behind cutting-edge science, high-quality postgraduate training, and national innovation.”
Ramo 38: Key Programs for CTI Community
Resources from Ramo 38 are allocated to crucial programs for the CTI community, including:
- Graduate scholarships and quality support
- Public Research Centers
- National System of Researchers and Research Fellows (SNII)
- Program for researchers by Mexico
- National Strategic Programs (Pronaces) to address priority national issues
Key Questions and Answers:
- What is the total approved budget for 2026? The Mexican Chamber of Deputies approved a budget of 10.19 billion pesos for 2026.
- Which sectors received budget increases? Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (CTI) sectors saw a budget increase from 348.6 million to 373.6 million pesos.
- What are the concerns surrounding the budget increase? Concerns include a lack of transparency in the decision-making process and insufficient dialogue with the scientific community regarding their specific needs.
- What are the key programs funded by Ramo 38? Ramo 38 supports graduate scholarships, public research centers, the National System of Researchers and Research Fellows (SNII), researcher programs by Mexico, and National Strategic Programs (Pronaces) to address priority national issues.
