The dissemination of scientific knowledge is one of the greatest challenges in Latin America. The high cost of scientific journals prevents many universities have access to this information and, on the side of researchers it is difficult to find spaces where they can share the results of their projects.

The report "The State of Science 2009" reveals that while the number of scientific publications increased by 90% in Latin America between 1998 and 2007, the region focused only 3.4% of world production: From 1,324,819 publications, only 45,606 were from Latin America.

In this context, creating new channels of dissemination and analysis is crucial and the National Academic Network of Advanced Technology (RENATA) has taken the big step of creating an electronic journal. The first edition of e-Colabora is now online, with content that reflects the work of science, education, innovation and culture, supporting its development in advanced technology networks.

The publication is produced by RENATA with the support of the Regional Academic Networks in Colombia and Latin American Cooperation of Advanced Networks, CLARA.

"In RENATA saw the need for an academic publication that would highlight the role of academic networks with advanced technology in Colombia and Latin America. Each country of the region is ahead of different strategies to take advantage of these facilities and has undertaken projects of great impact, but there was a trade publication in which it makes known formally the knowledge and results from these efforts, " said Martha I. Giraldo, RENATA Executive Director and Director of the magazine.

Twice a year, e-colabora is aimed at researchers, practitioners, teachers, students and managers interested in the use, ownership and development of academic projects through advanced academic networks.

According to Giraldo, e-works has much to share with the academic community in the country and Latin America: "The technological infrastructure provided by these networks offers academic and technical community of the continent new opportunities for the development of applications and services. Athrough e-collaboration we want to facilitate and promote the initiatives, efforts and knowledge, the academic community of Colombia and Latin America are produced by academic work supported collaborative network of advanced technology, "he said.

Academic papers will be published in e-colabora, both theoretical and technical product research or practical experiences framed in the use of high-speed academic networks in science, education, innovation and culture.

First Edition

The first edition of e-works, from January to June 2011, includes topics such as the Joint Proposal of the e-science in Colombia, Grid Colombia, support for advanced research, virtual experiences with parts of the Gold Museum, and recovery system for content in a medical image database.

In e-colabora are invited to publish any member of the academic, technical or research group of the continent that is working with advanced technology networks. Authors should register on the platform of the magazine (http://publicaciones.renata.edu.co) and through it track the process, once registered, the writers may submit work via the platform.