Provided by The San Juan Star By The STAR Staff The Science, Research and Technology Trust council appointed Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Jorge Silva Puras as chairman of the entity, representing a step forward for the development of public policy that stimulates sciences and technologies on the island. University of Puerto Rico President Antonio García Padilla made the announcement Tuesday, noting that the council approved the appointment last week,during its first meeting of this year. Along with Silva Puras, vice president Léster Martínez, a retired Army general, and attorney Gil Medina, a former economic development secretary for the state of New Jersey, join the Trust’s board. “The Science, Research and Technology Trust is going to place to us in a more favorable position to compete with countries like Ireland and Singapore,” García Padilla said. “Scientific research in Puerto Rico needed the discussion forum and the resources that the Trust provides. There are reasons for optimism with these developments.” Meanwhile, Silva Puras said he will focus his efforts on identifying a new executive director in the next three months. The Trust, he said,“will provide the tools to impel the agenda in sciences and technologies, since this organism is constituted of first-class scientists and professionals.” Silva Puras also vowed to establish a local technology transfer office, which will be run by Emma Fernández Repollet, vice president of Research and Technology at the UPR, and Martínez. “As part of the agreements, we will identify ways to dedicate more land to establish a sciences corridor, particularly on land near the Botanical Garden, where the UPR’s Molecular Sciences Building will soon be constructed,” Silva Puras said. The Science, Research and Technology Trust council has several other members, namely, Fabrizio Bonanni, vice president of manufacturing at Amgen;Mariano García Blanco, biology professor at Duke University; Paul Lizardi, pathology professor at Yale University; Ileana Fas, executive director of the Office of Management and Budget; and Alfredo Salazar, president of the Government Development Bank.