A message from our Principal Investigator: Advancing Transportation and Logistics Through Innovation

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural issue of the CETL newsletter. The newsletter is designed as a quarterly publication to keep our stakeholders informed of the initiatives, accomplishments, and opportunities emerging from CETL’s three strategic pillars: talent development, innovation, and industry engagement.

As the Principal Investigator of CETL, my vision is to advance transportation and logistics (T&L) through innovation in each of our pillars. Every initiative we undertake is guided by our vision to serve as a catalyst in advancing talent and innovation in the transportation and logistics community to promote long-term social and economic development in Puerto Rico.

For the talent development pillar, we have been innovating through hands-on opportunities and designing new T&L curricula. During 2026, CETL helped create fourteen (14) summer internships, twenty-three (23) COOP experiences, four (4) capstone projects, and three (3) case studies for project courses. We have also supported the development of several new academic programs that are currently in different stages of the approval process, including a Minor in Supply Chain Management, a Minor in Transportation and Logistics, an Online Masters of Science in Supply Chain Management; a Doctor of Engineering in Industrial Engineering; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Engineering. Together, these initiatives are expanding educational pathways that will produce the future workforce of the T&L sector.

Through research, CETL is designing the future of T&L while creating intellectual property. Some of the key initiatives in research include fourteen (14) research projects sponsored by CETL and a Seminar Series. CETL funds T&L research projects that have the potential to create National impact. Our research portfolio is centered on two themes: creating a freight data observatory for Puerto Rico as an enabler for economic development and development of AI models to address critical T&L challenges. Through our Seminar Series, students, faculty, and industry leaders share their innovations, creating an ecosystem of collaboration. Approximately 34% of CETL’s budget is allocated to research activities which will transform the future of Puerto Rico’s T&L sector.

Industry engagement ensures that our work remains relevant and impactful. CETL actively participates in key T&L industry forums, providing valuable insight into industry-wide opportunities and challenges in Puerto Rico. We are also fortunate to benefit from an outstanding Industry Advisory Board composed of logistics service provider leaders. Their guidance helps us align our educational initiatives, research, and strategic priorities with real-world industry needs.

In less than two years, CETL has emerged as a leading hub for T&L innovation in Puerto Rico. This progress reflects the dedication of our students, faculty, industry partners, and stakeholders. We hope this newsletter provides valuable insight into our journey and inspires continued collaboration as we work to strengthen Puerto Rico’s T&L ecosystem through talent development, innovation, and industry partnership.