Chemical engineering as an essential element of industrial biotechnology in Mexico: New aims in research and university education

Abstract On the centennial of higher education in Chemical Engineering in Mexico, it is pertinent to revisit the key stages that have contributed to its consolidation as a vital discipline for the nation's scientific and technological advancement. Although the initial mission of chemical engineering education was primarily oriented toward the training of professionals to support the growth of processing industries, over the past four decades, academic institutions have increasingly prioritized the pursuit of high‐quality research and the development of advanced graduate programs in related fields. Among these institutions, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has notably positioned biotechnology as one of its principal areas of academic and research focus, with impact in undergraduate and graduate education. In alignment with this orientation, the present article outlines selected contributions made by distinguished chemical engineers from UNAM in advancing three strategic areas within the field of biotechnology: enzyme processing, pharmaceutical biotechnology, and nano‐biotechnology. The authors, as recognized scholars and researchers, have for several decades played a leading role in higher education, while also contributing significantly to the training of a large number of qualified professionals dedicated to scientific research and technological innovation.