University of Panama reports decade of scientific growth under Flores Castro

The University of Panama has concluded a decade of management under Rector Eduardo Flores Castro, reporting significant growth in scientific production and academic advancement. During a recent accountability report, the institution noted that Scopus-indexed publications rose from 54 in 2016 to 263 in 2026, while the number of professors holding doctoral degrees increased from 341 to 775.

Financially, the university executed B/. 305.3 million of the B/. 350.9 million allocated in the 2026 budget, representing an 87% execution rate. For the upcoming year, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has recommended a budget of B/. 379.4 million.

Other key achievements over the ten-year period include the establishment of 100 research groups, an increase in scientific journals from 11 to 27, and a rise in research grant funding from B/. 60,000 to B/. 800,000. The university also reported the creation of 13 new doctoral programs and the graduation of 18,840 professionals. In the field of natural sciences, researchers identified new species of crabs, trees, mantises, and beetles, as well as an extinct fossil fish species.