News

San José, Costa Rica, October 14, 2025 – The Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications (MICITT) and the Latin American Advanced Networks Cooperation (RedCLARA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marking a new step in digital cooperation and advancing Costa Rica’s integration into BELLA II, the project that promotes connectivity, innovation, and scientific collaboration between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Credits: RedCLARA, with contributions from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications (MICITT) and the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica, recognized for its leadership in digital transformation and for having one of the strongest technological infrastructures in Central America, is part of the group of priority countries in BELLA II, along with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Peru. BELLA II, which is led by RedCLARA and partly funded by the European Union (EU) through the EU–LAC Digital Alliance and the Global Gateway initiative, aims to create the necessary infrastructure and skills to build a digital environment for science, technology, education, and innovation, tackling important regional issues and encouraging economic growth.

The agreement was signed by Minister Paula Bogantes Zamora on behalf of MICITT and RedCLARA Executive Director Luis Eliécer Cadenas Marín, with the EU Ambassador to Costa Rica, Pierre-Louis Lempereur, as honorary witness.

The alliance establishes a framework for technical collaboration to explore joint actions and support Costa Rica’s future integration into the BELLA II digital ecosystem. It seeks to strengthen national infrastructure, promote scientific cooperation, and expand opportunities for innovation and regional connectivity, in line with the objectives of the EU–LAC Digital Alliance. The MoU is valid for two years, with specific projects formalized through additional agreements defining objectives, timelines, funding, and coordination mechanisms.

“Through this alliance, we aim to strengthen Costa Rica’s digital and scientific infrastructure, promoting regional cooperation and knowledge exchange between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. At MICITT, our focus is on developing capacities in research, technological innovation, and digital education, enabling scientists, academics, and entrepreneurs to collaborate on high-impact projects. Participation in BELLA II allows us to contribute to building a robust and sustainable digital ecosystem, where connectivity and open innovation become tools for the country’s and region’s progress,” said Paula Bogantes Zamora, Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications.

For his part, Luis Eliécer Cadenas, RedCLARA Executive Director, emphasized the regional impact of this alliance: “The BELLA II project not only builds networks, it builds community. With the signing of this agreement, Costa Rica brings its leadership, talent, and vision to the Latin American and European digital ecosystem. Cooperation is the way to turn connectivity into development and knowledge into shared progress.”

The EU Ambassador to Costa Rica, Pierre-Louis Lempereur, highlighted, “We are strengthening the digital bridge between Europe and Latin America, with Costa Rica as a key partner. We are creating unprecedented opportunities in research, education, and innovation by expanding Costa Rica's connectivity from 5 to 20 gigabits per second. High-speed Internet access is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. It is the foundation on which education systems thrive, businesses innovate, and communities prosper. Through the EU–LAC Digital Alliance, our goal is to ensure that the benefits of digital transformation reach all corners of Costa Rica.”

With this agreement, Costa Rica positions itself as a strategic partner in expanding the regional digital ecosystem, strengthening research, education, science, and innovation capacities in the region. The country reaffirms its role as a bridge between Latin America and Europe and as a reference in building an inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered digital future.

“The digital future of Latin America is already underway. With Costa Rica, that future becomes stronger, more connected, and more inclusive,” concluded Cadenas.