UASLP – Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí (The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi)

The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi (Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí- UASLP in Spanish) is a higher learning institution, aimed to reaching the highest standards of education and research in Mexico. The main campus is located in the city of San Luis Potosi, with three campus located in outlying zones. Its academic model is based on a close collaboration among teaching and basic and applied research.

The UASLP counts with Research Centers and Institutes, being one of them the Postgraduate Study and Research Center of the Chemical Science Faculty (CIEP-FCQ). One of the projects developed in this center is related to the use of Candelilla wax for the elaboration of margarine type products, vegetable oils and coatings, based on vegetable oils with a high oleic acid concentration.

UANL – Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (The Autonomous University of Nuevo León)

The Autonomous University of Nuevo León (Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León “UANL” in Spanish) is one of Mexico’s most important institutions of higher learning. The main campus is located in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León.

The Faculty of Biological Sciences of the UANL has carried out a number of important research & development projects involving the resources of the country’s arid zones. Its participation in Candelilla Institute focuses on sustainable development projects, specifically related to botanical analysis, physiology and cultivation strategies for the Candelilla plant.

UAdeC – Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila (The Autonomous University of Coahuila)

The Autonomous University of Coahuila (Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila “UAdeC” in Spanish) is the state’s most relevant institute of higher education, with branches in the cities of Saltillo, Torreon and North Zone.

The University has basic and applied investigation groups that have carried out some researchs about the Mexican arid zones, including their biological resources. In the Chemical Sciences Faculty, the Food Research Department has gathered a research group in Candelilla, which with the financial help of Comision Nacional Forestal, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología and Prodesnos has carried out the basic and applied investigation for the redesign of the Candelilla wax extraction process, and the generated waste exploitation. This group offers training and also analysis and formulation services for products that use Candelilla wax.

ITCM – Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Madero  (The Madero City Technological Institute)

The Madero City Technological Institute (El Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Madero “ITCM” in Spanish), located in Madero City, Tamaulipas, has a great prestige because of its graduates and is dedicated to educational, scientific and technological activities, in different areas, such as Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Administration and Electric Engineering.

The Madero City Technological Institute, through its Postgraduate Studies in Chemical Engineering Sciences (MCIQ), undertakes sustainable projects with the Candelilla bagasse utilization.

ITESM – The Tecnológico de Monterrey (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey)

The Tecnológico de Monterrey (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey “ITESM” in Spanish) is a higher education institution that educates students to become responsible citizens who trigger the development of their communities. They promote in their students humanistic values, an international perspective, and an entrepreneurial culture. They are present throughout Mexico in 31 campuses and in several other countries.

In the Chemical Engineering Department of Campus Monterrey, there have been some research projects through the Technology Innovation Projects (PIT in Spanish). With this program they want to promote the development of the desert plants throughout applied research programs. All the carried out projects have been focused in innovation, for example the search for different processes in the Candelilla wax extraction or the Lechuguilla wax feasibility research.

Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango

The School of Biological Sciences at the Juarez University of Durango is located in the Chihuahuan Desert. A core part of its research is focused on the biodiversity of the semi-arid Durango region, primarily in the use of non-timber species.

The School is conducting botanical-taxonomic studies that involve plants with medicinal properties and has approached the Candelilla Institute to support research on the use, development, and management of medicinal plants in the Durango region. The desired outcomes of this research include how to handle the plants, how to obtain extracts, and a bibliographical report on various non-timber species in the region.