The intellectual support variables used within the investigative process in Higher Education Institutions were characterized. Research with a quantitative, positivist, analytical approach, field designs, in a non-experimental, transversal or transactional way, descriptive type. The study population group is made up of vice-rectories of the research area, coordinations, headquarters or leaders of the research area, who are in charge of the management and viability of the research processes in 7 universities of Cartagena de Indias, survey, an instrument was used with alternatives of closed Likert-type answers, the Statistics of the data was Descriptive systematized in Microsoft Excel, SPSS and R.3.2.3. It is allowed to show that there is not a sufficient amount of economic resources available to carry out research, Relationships with both companies and other government institutions must be strengthened to develop investigative processes that entail producing intellectual material. As well as implementing methodologies to increase and strengthen knowledge networks; as well as virtual repositories.