CARLA 2026 brought together the Latin American supercomputing and artificial intelligence community in Córdoba

The thirteenth edition of CARLA brought together more than 300 specialists, researchers, public policy makers, industry representatives and leaders of supercomputing centres from Latin America and the Caribbean in Córdoba, Argentina, to discuss high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, data science and advanced research infrastructure. The conference concluded with the announcement that CARLA 2027 will take place in Bogotá, Colombia, from 27 September to 1 October 2027, with a scientific programme focusing on high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, scientific computing and quantum computing.

The Argentine city of Córdoba hosted CARLA 2026 (Conference on High Performance Computing for Latin America), the leading high-performance computing (HPC) event in Latin America and the Caribbean, which brought together more than 300 specialists, researchers, government officials, industry representatives and heads of supercomputing centres from across the region. The conference, organised by UNC Supercomputing Córdoba and the regional HPC community, took place on the premises of the National University of Córdoba (UNC).

Over the course of five days, CARLA addressed the main challenges and opportunities in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence at HPC scale, advanced scientific applications and the development of human capacity for the region’s technological advancement. The programme included keynote speeches, specialised workshops, technical training sessions, research presentations and activities aimed at strengthening collaboration between academia, government and industry.

In this context, on 24 September, Luis Eliécer Cadenas, Executive Director of RedCLARA, took part in the ‘Government & Financing’ panel, a session dedicated to analysing the funding mechanisms, governance and sustainability required to consolidate high-impact scientific and technological infrastructures in Latin America and the Caribbean.

During his address, Cadenas highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and international partnerships to expand access to advanced digital infrastructure, as well as the need to develop sustainable funding models that enable the region’s scientific communities to take full advantage of supercomputing, artificial intelligence and data management capabilities for research, innovation and development.

The CARLA 2026 event was also marked by the commissioning of Helvetios, a new supercomputer for the National University of Córdoba, donated by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). The system, operated by the UNC’s High-Performance Computing Centre (CCAD), triples the computing capacity previously available at the institution and significantly expands research possibilities in areas such as artificial intelligence, scientific simulation, engineering, chemistry, biomedicine and astronomy.

According to the organisers, the conference reaffirmed the strategic role of Latin America and the Caribbean in developing capabilities in supercomputing, artificial intelligence and data science, promoting a regional vision based on collaboration, knowledge exchange and the development of shared infrastructure.

RedCLARA’s participation in CARLA 2026 reinforces its commitment to strengthening the regional research and education ecosystem, driving initiatives that facilitate access to advanced digital infrastructure and foster international cooperation to tackle the region’s major scientific and technological challenges.

CARLA 2027 will be held in Bogotá, Colombia, from 27 September to 1 October 2027, with its scientific focus on high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, scientific computing and quantum computing, consolidating the event’s evolution as one of the main forums for the development of advanced research capabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean.