The Centro de Tecnología en Iluminación (CTI)/Lighting Technology Center at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG) was officially launched on December 9, 2021, in collaboration with UC Davis. 

Michael Siminovitch, director of the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) and Rosenfeld Chair in Energy Efficiency serves as the UC Davis director of the CTI, and Mauricio Alcocer Ruthling serves as the UAG director of the CTI. Joanna Regulska, vice provost and dean of UC Davis Global Affairs participated in the inauguration and gave remarks at the grand opening of the CTI. 

Read the article in Spanish on the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara website 

Inauguration of CTI, an innovative center that promotes energy efficiency and the science of light

The inauguration was attended by leaders of the public and private sector

By: Arturo Padilla, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara

The Lighting Technology Center (CTI in Spanish) “is a place where the experience and leadership of diverse institutions working to promote energy efficiency come together,” said Juan Carlos Leaño del Castillo, Administrative Vice Chancellor of the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG), during the center’s inauguration.

The CTI was officially launched at UAG with the collaboration of strategic allies such as the University of California, Davis; Construlita Lighting International; OSRAM Opto Semiconductors; the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Guadalajara; the Ministry of Energy of the Federal Government and the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT).

"It is a real honor for us to inaugurate this center, as it clearly demonstrates the success that can be achieved when the experience and leadership of institutions with a common interest to work towards energy efficiency, the science of light and the professionalization of the sector come together. It is undoubtedly a milestone in the history of our state, of Mexico, of Latin America and particularly of UAG," said Mr. Leaño del Castillo.

He added that the UAG is confident and motivated to promote innovation as a transcendental value, along with ethics and social responsibility.

In fact, innovation happens every day on campus—in classrooms, laboratories and applied innovation centers where professors, students and researchers work to create innovative ideas.

"We feel very proud of the contributions that are minted every day within this great academic community. We also feel very grateful to our strategic partners and to all those who have made it possible to open the doors of CTI and make it available to society," he concluded.

CTI will be a high-level service provider for industry, academia and public policy-making institutions that promote education, science, technology and innovation in the region.

At the inauguration, Dr. Andrew Mc Allister, Commissioner of the California Energy Commission, pointed out that CTI is an example of a modern center that will change the future of the region in a positive way and will impact various areas such as politics, health and society.

Mr. Juan Carlos Laso Navarro, General Director of Grupo Construlita, pointed out that this laboratory will change the way in which lighting technology is developed in Mexico and highlighted the strategic alliance between the company he represents and UAG.

Likewise, Dr. Ricardo Floyd Oropeza, Dean of the School of Engineering and Sciences of Tecnológico de Monteterrey, said that the center is a scientific and educational milestone and a driving force for research in Mexico.

Miss Jackie Olson, Regional Vice President Americas, AMS-OSRAM, affirmed that the center will foster the development of hundreds of ideas, technologies and paradigm shifts that will bring untold and unquestionable benefits to science.

Mauricio Alcocer Ruthling, Director of the UAG Center for Sustainability and Renewable Energy, and Dr. Michael Siminovitch, Director of the California Lighting Technology Center, joined to explain how CTI will work and its importance for supply chains, the economy, industry and other stakeholders.

The inaugural event was attended by special guests, industry leaders, scientists, academics, students and authorities of the UAG. In addition to the opening ceremony, various activities on lighting and energy efficiency, such as panels, presentations and others focused on innovation, were held over two days.

Unique and innovative

As the only one of its kind in Latin America, this center for applied innovation offers cutting-edge services to various supply chains, such as photometric testing, best practices in lighting and energy efficiency. In addition, it has a portfolio of educational programs aimed at training specialists in the selection, testing, operation, management and maintenance of equipment and systems for controlling the electrical supply and demand of lighting systems.

What does CTI have to offer?

• Conduct practical product research and implementation trials and adapt solutions to Latin American markets and trends.
• Obtain critical data for the development of market strategies in terms of light psychology, light efficiency, and people traffic measurements, for example.
• Establish procedures and best practices suitable for lighting designers or lighting engineers.
• Train the whole professional sector, from conceptualization and technical criteria, to engineering and project applications.

11 Laboratories

CTI has 11 laboratories, each with a specific task dedicated to the application, practice and development of technology and sustainability; they will assist in measuring, NORMS certification and other applications that can bring unparalleled benefits to society, government and business:

• Shelf-Life Laboratory
• Quality and Photometric Testing Laboratory
• Commercial Space Laboratory (Retail)
• Living Space Laboratory
• School Classroom Laboratory
• Daylighting Laboratory
• Office Space Laboratory
• Corridor Laboratory
• Hospital Laboratory
• Prototyping Laboratory
• Outdoor/Value and Open Parking Lot Labs
• Training Room
• Dual-Mirror Photogoniometer and Rotating Sensors