Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías
The Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias, y Tecnologías was Mexico's entity in charge for the promotion of science and technology from 1970 to 2024. As a federal agency of Mexico, it was responsible for setting government policies on research and technological development, establishing public research centers, and funding scientific laboratories, research projects and postgraduate studies. In 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum promoted the agency to the level of secretariat : the Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación.
Programs
CONAHCYT granted scholarships for graduate studies in Mexico for programs that have been recognized by CONAHCYT in the Registry of Quality Graduate Programs. CONAHCYT also granted scholarships for Mexican nationals to pursue graduate studies in foreign countries. CONAHCYT also provided funding for postdoctoral positions and sabbatical leaves.CONAHCYT also administered the National System of Researchers, a national network promoting high quality scientific research. Membership to the system and the level assigned dependents on scientific productivity and is evaluated by peer committees. Members of SNI, both Mexican and foreign, receive a monthly stipend directly from CONAHCYT only if they work in institutions or universities located in Mexico. The specific amount of the monetary stipend increases depending on the membership level. Mexican nationals working full time on research-related activities but ascribed to institutions located outside Mexico are eligible for membership but not for the stipend. In these cases, the appointment is considered a distinction.
Research centers
CONAHCYT also managed programs to encourage industry and private sector involvement in science and technology R&D through the RENIECYT to offer financing to technical and technological development projects.CONAHCYT also managed 26 public research centers located in several parts of Mexico and dedicated usually to a narrow field of science. Some of the best known are:
General directors
The head of CONAHCYT was appointed directly by the President of Mexico. Since CONAHCYT was founded it has been led by:- Eugenio Méndez Docurro M.Sc. in engineering
- Gerardo Bueno Zirión, Ph.D.
- Edmundo Flores Flores, Ph.D.
- Héctor Mayagoitia Domínguez, Ph.D.
- José Gerstl Valenzuela, Ph.D.
- Manuel V. Ortega Ortega, Ph.D.
- Fausto Alzati, Ph.D.
- Carlos Bazdresch Parada, Ph.D.
- Jaime Parada Ávila, Ph.D.
- Gustavo Chapela Castañares, Ph.D.
- Juan Carlos Romero Hicks, M.A.
- José Enrique Villa Rivera, Ph.D.
- Enrique Cabrero Mendoza, Ph.D.
- María Elena Álvarez-Buylla Roces, Ph.D.