Conference Agenda

This article reflects on the role of theory in a knowledge generation process that is not usually addressed in the classic literature on Research Methodology: technology development. It combines a conceptual approach with an example corresponding to a technology development project carried out by the authors. It analyzes the Multidisciplinary Knowledge Base necessary for this type of process, distinguishing two components within it: the Framework, which includes generic and global concepts, in the public domain and available a priori; and the Local Theory, which is not known a priori but must be constructed. Local Theory has a "local" character in the sense of its close political, economic, social, cultural, idiosyncratic, and environmental connection to the context in which technology development takes place; and it is dynamic: it evolves through reconstructions and reinterpretations during the development process. The process of constructing Local Theory is also analyzed, highlighting its iterative nature and the link it establishes between this theory, the developing technology, and its validation, finally resorting to a case study.

In conclusion, just as scientific research involves the construction of theory, the process of technological development also entails the construction of a specific form of theory tailored to the “local” reality, called “Local Theory,” which arises from a situated reflective activity.

This article is an expansion of the author's lecture at the 2025 IEEE Engineering Education World Conference (EDUNINE).

This article presents a historical review of the nuclear treaties and agreements signed by the Dominican Republic, tracing their chronological evolution from the first bilateral cooperation agreement with the United States (1956) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (2018). Through systematic documentary analysis and triangulation of primary sources, three historical periods are identified: bilateral construction (1956–1971), regional and security integration (1984–2000), and multilateral consolidation (2009–present). The national normative framework developed in response to these international commitments is also examined. Results confirm that the Dominican Republic has built a coherent and progressive trajectory of nuclear commitments aligned with the peaceful use of atomic energy, while identifying a persistent structural gap: the absence of a comprehensive Nuclear Activities Act that consolidates the full scope of international commitments assumed over seven decades.

This paper presents examples in which neurosignals such as concentration, stress, arousal, engagement, interest, and attention are recorded to improve operations in the area of management. The operation of three types of brain-computer interfaces is briefly described. A general methodological framework for developing applications in this field is outlined. Four case studies are presented that demonstrate the relevance of BCI tools in administrative processes.

This study develops and applies the integrated COVA framework for risk-oriented sales governance in microenterprises. Although internal control systems (COSO), business process management (BPM), and robotic process automation (RPA) have been widely examined independently, limited empirical evidence addresses their structured integration within unified methodologies tailored to commercial cycles in emerging economy microenterprises. The COVA framework combines risk prioritization, AS-IS and TO-BE process redesign, and the identification of automation opportunities to enhance traceability, operational efficiency, and decision-making. The empirical application in a microenterprise within the electrical and occupational safety services sector identified structural weaknesses in control activities, role definition, and information flow. The resulting design established formal control points and a scalable automation roadmap. Findings indicate that integrating control, process architecture, and technology within a single framework strengthens commercial governance and provides a replicable model for microenterprises operating in regulation-intensive environments.

This study analyzes the adoption of the SAP Business One CRM module in an SME, employing the parsimony of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Through a quantitative analysis (PLS-SEM) involving 132 employees, the results demonstrate that Perceived Ease of Use significantly predicts Perceived Usefulness. However, Attitude Toward Using emerges as the main determinant of Intention to Use. It is concluded that, to mitigate technological underutilization, organizations must prioritize the design of interfaces that reduce cognitive load and implement strategies aimed at strengthening users' affective disposition and intrinsic motivation.

The rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence tools is transforming both educational and professional environments, particularly in fields linked to industrial digital transformation. In this context, understanding the factors that influence future engineers’ willingness to integrate these technologies into their professional practice represents a relevant challenge for engineering education. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the intention to use generative artificial intelligence in the future professional practice of Industrial Engineering students, based on a conceptual model derived from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and incorporating trust in AI-based systems. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with a sample of 172 Industrial Engineering students from a Chilean university. The instrument was validated through expert judgment and assessed for internal consistency. The results show that perceived usefulness significantly predicts future professional intention to use generative artificial intelligence, while behavioral intention explains the projected willingness to integrate these technologies into professional contexts. The findings suggest that the adoption of generative artificial intelligence begins to emerge during university training, representing a potential indicator of the development of digital competencies aligned with Industry 4.0 environments.

This study reports the synthesis and structural characterization of copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) prepared via the chemical precipitation method. The synthesis was carried out using aqueous solutions of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) and sodium sulfide decahydrate (Na₂S·10H₂O) under controlled temperature and constant stirring conditions. Structural characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The diffraction patterns showed good agreement with the reference data reported in the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) database (PDF 00-06-0464), confirming the formation of the covellite phase with a hexagonal crystal structure. The average crystallite size was estimated from the broadening of the diffraction peaks using the Scherrer equation. The calculated crystallite sizes ranged from 6.62 nm to 14.01 nm, indicating that the synthesized material exhibits nanometric crystalline domains. It should be noted that the Scherrer equation provides an estimation of the coherent diffraction domain size (crystallite size), which does not necessarily correspond to the actual particle size in cases where nanoparticles are polycrystalline or form aggregates. The observed size variation is attributed to the intrinsic anisotropy associated with the hexagonal crystal structure of the covellite phase.