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The digital transformation of research infrastructures was the central theme of the 15th meeting of the Bi-regional Working Group on Research Infrastructures (RI WG), held this past June in Vienna, Austria, under the framework of the Strategic Partnership between the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Organized by the European Commission, the meeting brought together national representatives, scientific institutions, and experts from both regions in a collaborative setting aimed at promoting open access, interoperability, and transcontinental scientific cooperation.

At this meeting, RedCLARA presented its digital ecosystem and its role as a key platform to accelerate open science in Latin America. By being part of the BELLA II project, which is partly funded by the EU, RedCLARA is addressing the key needs of modern research: providing high-speed internet access, secure platforms for collaboration, special connections for sharing scientific data, tools for reliable publishing, and digital systems that support new technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain.

"The digital transformation of science requires more than just technical infrastructure—it requires a shared vision. At RedCLARA, we are building digital bridges that allow Latin America to actively and meaningfully participate in global science," said Mark Urban, RedCLARA’s Director of International Relations, during his presentation “RedCLARA: A Capacity-Building Ecosystem for Open Science in Latin America.”

RedCLARA’s infrastructure currently connects over 2,000 universities and research centers across Latin America through a high-speed network that links to its counterparts in Europe (GÉANT), the United States (Internet2), Africa (TENET), and other regions. This robust network enables access to essential scientific services, including identity federations (eduroam, eduvpn), dedicated circuits interconnecting data centers, laboratories, and observatories, as well as secure digital environments for the exchange and analysis of large-scale scientific data. This ecosystem has been further strengthened by the implementation of a new strategy focused on flexible solutions tailored to the real needs of scientific communities. RedCLARA promotes the design of customized services, integrates resources with partner networks such as GEO, OEI, SEGIB, and MetaRed, and fosters collaborative networks that tackle scientific challenges beyond national borders.

In addition, RedCLARA is enabling testbed environments that allow experimentation with advanced technologies in controlled settings. Projects such as Camaron in Guatemala, which applies nanoparticles for the remediation of contaminated water, and Diploma, which pilots verifiable academic credentials using blockchain, demonstrate how technological capabilities are being placed at the service of scientific development and regional innovation.

This comprehensive vision directly aligns with the pillars outlined in the EU–CELAC meeting: advancing interoperable digital infrastructures, facilitating transregional collaboration, and ensuring equitable access to scientific knowledge. With over 20 years of experience, RedCLARA has become a strategic instrument for strengthening Latin America’s scientific and technological sovereignty—bringing together infrastructure, services, and community to build a more robust, inclusive, and globally connected scientific ecosystem.

The EU–CELAC Strategic Partnership between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States seeks to strengthen political, economic, social, scientific, and cultural cooperation between the two regions. In the fields of science, technology, and innovation, EU–CELAC promotes various joint initiatives, including bi-regional working groups—such as the Research Infrastructures Working Group (RI WG)—as well as collaborative research and innovation projects and the exchange of knowledge, data, and best practices.