Universidad Nacional Del Centro De La Provincia De Buenos Aires

Universidad Nacional Del Centro De La Provincia De Buenos Aires, commonly known as Unicen, is an Argentine educational institution registered in the U.S. government's System for Award Management (SAM) since 2014, with registration valid through August 2025. As a non-profit, state-controlled higher education institution, Unicen operates internationally and has established itself as a contributor to federal grant-funded research and conservation initiatives. The university is structured as an international organization with a focus on academic and environmental research projects that support sustainable development and conservation efforts.

Unicen has primarily engaged with the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service through targeted conservation grants in Patagonia, Argentina. Specifically, the university has been awarded two consecutive project grants (F21AP03379 and F23AP03140) focusing on sustainable land use and biodiversity conservation in the Somuncura Plateau. These grants, totaling $277,560, have supported comprehensive ecological preservation efforts including managing water sources, reducing human-wildlife conflicts, implementing predator management strategies, and promoting ecotourism. The grants are part of the Latin America and Caribbean Regional program, which supports innovative training for resource managers. Additionally, Unicen has participated in a sub-grant award with the University of Maryland, College Park, related to microbial surveillance of surface water, demonstrating the institution's versatility in environmental and scientific research collaboration with U.S. federal agencies.