Universidad Estatal Amazónica

What Universidad Estatal Amazónica does

Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA) is a public university founded in 2002 and headquartered in Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador, operating under the country's Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES). It is the largest university in the Ecuadorian Amazon, with academic campuses in three provinces (Pastaza, Sucumbíos, Zamora Chinchipe) and a 2,848.20-hectare experimental research center (CEIPA) containing primary rainforest. The institution serves approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with enrollment projected to exceed 10,000 by 2026, and admitted over 19,000 applicants for the 2025 cycle. UEA offers tuition-free undergraduate education (mandated by Ecuadorian law) supplemented by scholarships and B1 English certification funded through state appropriations, alongside five master's degree programs in Tourism, Agroindustry, Agronomy, Environmental Engineering, and Silviculture that generate tuition revenue.

UEA operates an integrated digital ecosystem comprising SIAD for academic management, EVA for virtual learning, SITIC for IT governance (aligned to ISO/IEC 38500 and COBIT 5), and a ticketing-based helpdesk, supporting both in-person programs across its three campuses and a growing portfolio of online degree programs. The institution differentiates through proprietary research infrastructure including Ecuador's only supercritical fluid extractor (Microbiology lab) and the first 500 kWp photovoltaic solar park in the Ecuadorian Amazon (1,220 Belga Solar panels, financed through Belgium's FINEXPO/AWEX with ENERGIQA implementation). Research output in 2023 included 6 active projects and 80 scientific publications, while 100% of full-time faculty hold graduate degrees.

The revenue model is dominated by Ecuadorian state budget allocations under LOES, with secondary streams from graduate program tuition, research grants, and 81 cooperation agreements covering technology transfer and community engagement. The institution pursues active internationalization through partnerships with KU Leuven, University of Ghent, VUB, ARES, CEDIA, EUA, and Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, and operates a wholly-owned public enterprise subsidiary (Empresa Pública Amazónica UEA EP) for technology transfer and productive activities. Rector Dr. David Sancho Aguilera (2021-2026) has led a transformation agenda centered on digitalization, online program expansion, sustainability infrastructure, and academic internationalization, formalized through the Modelo Educativo 2026.

Name

Universidad Estatal Amazónica

Legal name

Universidad Estatal Amazónica

Website

https://uea.edu.ec

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Universidad Estatal Amazónica is Ecuador's largest public university in the Amazon region, offering tuition-free undergraduate and graduate programs across three campuses (Pastaza, Sucumbíos, Zamora Chinchipe) and serving approximately 5,000 students, with online modalities and a 2,848-hectare rainforest research center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Land-Grant Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual/Hybrid International Short-Term Academic Programs (EDAIAIAL)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Public university education
• Amazonian research programs
• Online degree programs
• Postgraduate education

Headquarters

HQ city

Puyo (Pastaza)

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Government Funding (Core Budget): As a public university, UEA is primarily funded through the Ecuadorian government's general state budget. This covers operational costs, faculty salaries, infrastructure, and academic programs.
2. Graduate Program Tuition: Revenue from tuition and fees for postgraduate programs including five master's degrees in Tourism, Agroindustry, Agronomy, Environmental Engineering, and Silviculture.
3. Research Grants and Project Funding: Funding for research projects from government and external institutions. In 2023, $635,109.39 was invested in laboratory equipment, reagents, supplies, and research management mechanisms.
4. 81 Cooperation Agreements with External Entities: Partnership agreements with GADS, public and private institutions, NGOs, and communities that may include co-funding for joint projects, technology transfer, and knowledge exchange.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UEA is a public university providing tuition-free undergraduate education across in-person and online modalities and five master's degree programs (Tourism, Agroindustry, Agronomy, Environmental Engineering, Silviculture). It delivers applied research and hands-on practical learning through the 2,848.20-hectare CEIPA primary-rainforest living laboratory, supported by an integrated digital ecosystem (SIAD, EVA, SITIC) and Ecuador's first 500 kWp photovoltaic solar park.

Product overview

Universidad Estatal Amazónica operates as a multi-campus public university with a unified digital platform ecosystem. Its core systems include SIAD for academic management, EVA for virtual learning, SITIC for IT governance, and specialized portals for admission, employment, and community engagement. The university offers programs through both in-person and online modalities across three academic campuses in Pastaza (main), Sucumbíos (Lago Agrio), and Zamora Chinchipe (El Pangui), with additional research facilities at CEIPA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CEIPA: Centro Experimental de Investigación y Producción Amazónica - The university's primary research and experimental production center, serving as a living laboratory with 2,848 hectares of primary rainforest.
• UEA Vinculación
• UEA EP
• SITIC
• SIAD

Products and services

• In-Person Undergraduate Degree Programs Tuition-free public undergraduate programs delivered in person across three campuses (Puyo/Pastaza, Lago Agrio/Sucumbíos, El Pangui/Zamora Chinchipe), covering agroindustry, agriculture, environmental engineering, biology, forestry, chemistry, architecture, tourism, and related fields. Free for admitted students per Ecuadorian law, with scholarships and English certification subsidies.
• Online Degree Programs (Carreras En Línea) Distance-learning undergraduate programs in Economics, Initial Education, Basic Education, Information Technology, Communication, Tourism, and Social Work, accessible nationally and internationally via the EVA virtual learning environment. Reached approximately 20,000 applicants across provincial, national, and global locations.
• Master's Degree Programs (Maestrías Profesionalizantes) Five tuition-bearing professional master's programs: Tourism Management, Agroindustrial Systems, Agricultural Systems, Environmental Sanitation, and Resource Management and Conservation (Silviculture). Designed to develop high-level research and professional capacity in Amazonian-relevant fields.
• CEIPA Research and Experimental Production Center Centro Experimental de Investigación y Producción Amazónica (CEIPA) — a 2,848.20-hectare living laboratory of primary rainforest located approximately 45 km from the main campus. Provides hands-on experimental learning, biodiversity research, water source studies, and field practicum for all academic programs. Includes planned poultry, forestry, and fish production laboratories plus a hotel/tourism management laboratory ($2 million USD planned investment).
• Community Engagement and Cooperation Services (Vinculación) Institutional programs for community engagement, technology transfer, and knowledge exchange delivered through 81 cooperation agreements with GADS, public and private institutions, NGOs, and communities. Includes partnerships with the Andean Parliament, ECSO, ERC, and bilateral agreements with European universities for joint projects.
• Applied Research and Scientific Publication Services University research activity producing 80 scientific publications in 2023 across 6 active research projects, supported by $635,109.39 invested in laboratory equipment, reagents, and supplies. Includes research output in biodiversity, invasive species, and Amazonian sustainability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,360 new student places offered in 2023 across two admission cycles
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (Ecuador)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2025Dr. Christian Jaramillo, director of the Doctoral Program in Education at Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, participated as a panelist in the 'UEA and the World: Strengthening Global Academic Connections' event. The university participates in joint academic dialogues and research cooperation with UEA.
• Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (Spain)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 January 2025Dr. Pedro Fernández from UPV served as a keynote speaker during the 'UEA and the World: Strengthening Academic Internationalization' event (January 19-21, 2026), delivering conferences on university-to-business energy research and mathematical modeling applications in education.
• Belga SolarcoreTechnology or Integration · 6 June 2024Belga Solar, a Belgian solar technology company, partnered with UEA for the donation and installation of 1,220 photovoltaic panels for the 500 kWp solar park at UEA's campus. Belga Solar provided Performance-series panels with a lifespan exceeding 25 years, installed on rooftops and ground structures. CEO Frédéric Conrads explained the solar value chain, emphasizing sustainable energy solutions.
• ENERGIQAcoreTechnology or Integration · 6 June 2024ENERGIQA, a Belgian energy company, managed the technical implementation of the 500 kWp solar photovoltaic park at UEA. CEO Juan Pablo Maureira presented on the decarbonization of the productive matrix and the growing demand for renewable energy in Ecuador and globally.
• CEDIA (Corporación Ecuatoriana para el Desarrollo de la Investigación)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024CEDIA organized the 'Comunidad de Rectores' program that took UEA's rector and vicerrector to Belgium for a 13-day academic mission. CEDIA coordinates and supports Ecuadorian higher education institutions in teaching, research, and community service.
• ARES (Académie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Supérieur, Belgium)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024ARES coordinates and supports higher education institutions in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation across six pillars: academic, research and development, institutional, information, development cooperation, and international. UEA's rector and vicerrector met with ARES during the Belgium mission to learn about Belgian higher education improvement strategies.
• VLUHR / VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024VLUHR (Flemish Council for Higher Education) and VUB (Free University of Brussels) received UEA's authorities. Rector Dr. Jan Danckaert welcomed the delegation, and Secretary General Dr. Koen Verlaeckt presented the Flemish higher education system, promoting academic exchange and international cooperation.
• KU Leuven (Belgium)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024KU Leuven, a 600-year-old research-intensive university recognized for its innovation and commitment to Sustainable Development Goals, hosted UEA authorities to explore collaboration models and high-quality programs with industry partnerships.
• University of Ghent (Belgium)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024The University of Ghent hosted UEA authorities with Vice Rector Van Herreweghe, including presentations on university history and pillars, laboratory visits, and a panel on CEDIA's role in Ecuadorian universities, exploring future research collaborations.
• EUA (European University Association)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024EUA represents over 880 universities across 49 European countries and plays a key role in the Bologna Process and EU policies on higher education, research, and innovation. UEA authorities met with EUA to understand European higher education cooperation frameworks.
• 81 National and International Partner InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023UEA has formalized 81 cooperation agreements with GADS (Gobiernos Autónomos Descentralizados), public institutions, private entities, NGOs, and the general community for technology transfer, knowledge exchange, collaborative management, and community integration. These agreements support practical training, research, and community engagement across all academic programs.
• Parlamento Andino (Andean Parliament)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023UEA signed a cooperation agreement with the Andean Parliament to promote academic cooperation and student representation in innovative and community engagement projects with students from all programs at the main campus.
• ECSO (European Cybersecurity Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023European Cybersecurity Organization, the only independent cross-sectoral cybersecurity organization in Europe, engaged with UEA to explore cybersecurity strategies and applications at the university.
• ERC (European Research Council)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The primary European organization for excellent research funding received UEA authorities to strengthen knowledge in research excellence and explore applications of European research strategies at UEA.
• GAD Parroquial de FátimaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023UEA signed a public deed for 10 hectares of land in the Fátima parish with the GAD Parroquial president, designated for construction of a university city to expand infrastructure capacity.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• INPA (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia): Brazil's primary government-funded Amazonian research institute, focused on biodiversity, forestry, and environmental sciences. Comparable in Amazon-region research mission, government funding, and biodiversity specialization, though as a research institute rather than a teaching university.
• Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM: Ecuador's newer public Amazonian research university focused on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and sustainable development. Directly comparable as a public Ecuadorian Amazon-region university with a research-intensive mission and similar regional government support.
• Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Amazonía: The Colombian Amazonian regional campus of the National University of Colombia, also a public research university dedicated to Amazon-region studies, biodiversity, and sustainable development — directly comparable in mission, regional focus, and public-university funding model.

Broad incumbents

• FLACSO Ecuador: Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences — Ecuador, a public postgraduate and research institution focused on social sciences, environmental policy, and Latin American development. Comparable as an Ecuadorian public research institution with graduate programs, research output, and international partnerships.
• Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM): Brazil's largest public federal university in the Amazon region, with multi-campus delivery and research programs in biodiversity, engineering, and environmental sciences. Comparable as a large, government-funded Amazon-region public university with broad program offerings and active research.
• ESPOL (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral): Ecuador's leading public research university in engineering, sciences, and technology. Comparable in country, public funding model, and research output ambitions, though with a broader engineering and applied sciences focus than UEA's Amazon-region specialization.

Regional players

• Universidad Nacional de Loja (UNL): Ecuadorian public university with strong programs in agriculture, environmental sciences, and renewable natural resources. Comparable in country, public funding model, and applied sciences focus, with some overlap in agroindustry and environmental engineering.
• Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM): Ecuadorian public regional university with programs in agriculture, environmental sciences, and engineering. Comparable in country, public funding model, and applied regional focus, though with a different geographic focus (coastal Manabí rather than Amazon).
• Universidad Técnica de Ambato (UTA): Ecuadorian public regional university with applied programs in engineering, agriculture, and administration. Comparable in country, public funding model, and applied sciences portfolio, though serving a different region of Ecuador (Andean central rather than Amazon).
• Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UNA) - Peru: Peru's National University of the Peruvian Amazon, a public research university in Iquitos focused on Amazonian biodiversity and environmental sciences — directly comparable in Amazon-region academic focus, public funding model, and research mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ueaeduec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNj5ZMsEEaDeIAbTEJZFjxw/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/ueaeduec
• Instagraminstagram.com/uea.edu.ec/?hl=es
• TikToktiktok.com/@uea.ec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universidad-estatal-amaz%C3%B3nica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Universidad Estatal Amazónica