The scientific production in hard sciences has been limited due to lack of funding but focused around physics, statistics, and partial differential equations in mathematics. In the case of engineering fields, the majority of scientific production comes from the top three polytechnic institutions: Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral - ''ESPOL'', Universidad de Las Fuerzas Armadas - ''ESPE'', and Escuela Politécnica Nacional ''EPN''. The Center for Research and Technology Development in Ecuador is an autonomous center for research and technology development funded by Senecyt.