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As part of its activities, the SPIDER project is conducting an online survey on the digital ecosystem's interconnectivity in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean (LAC).

The survey aims to assess the potential of the BELLA infrastructure for cooperation between the two continents by providing direct connectivity between them and high quality, high capacity and long term interconnectivity to their National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and to universities, research and innovation centres, observatories and other members of these networks.

The SPIDER project was launched at the end of 2023 to maximize the potential of the connectivity generated by the BELLA programme and to implement the results of the digitization dialogues. Under the leadership of RedCLARA and GEANT and with funding from the European Union (EU), BELLA deployed the first submarine fiber-optic cable directly connecting Latin America and the Caribbean to Europe and a terrestrial backbone connecting Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Argentina. The BELLA II project, currently under implementation, aims to connect as many LAC countries as possible to this network and consolidate a regional digital ecosystem.

SPIDER (EU-LAC Strategic Partnership for the Implementation of Digital Dialogues in R&I Cooperation) is funded by the European Union's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, and driven by a regional consortium formed by the advanced academic networks of Chile (REUNA), Ecuador (CEDIA), Brazil (RNP) and Costa Rica (RedCONARE), the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the European digital innovation ecosystem (EIT DIGITAL) and the companies Inmark and EurA PT.

The confidentially collected contributions from the survey are expected to serve as a guide to foster cooperation in digital transformation and research and innovation (R&I) between Europe and LAC."Your contributions will not only shape our collective understanding but also lay the groundwork for significant progress in the field of digital connectivity," the SPIDER website.

The survey is open until 20 April at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7PZKVRD?lang=en