News

The need to accelerate the digital transformation processes in Latin America and the Caribbean to generate greater economic and social development is the reason and the meaning of the “Dialogue on the Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Transformation in Latin America and the Caribbean”, an invite-only event* that will take place between the 14th and 18th of November, in Montevideo, Uruguay.

The “Dialogue” is organized by the Latin American Cooperation of Advanced Networks, RedCLARA, and the national research and education networks (NRENs) that are part of it, and hosted by the Uruguayan advanced network RAU.

All the agenda will be carried out in a hybrid format, with the participation of deans of Latin American universities, European Commission authorities and representatives of government agencies in the region, regional funding bodies for science and education, and other representative bodies linked to this theme, with a view to finding solutions to the challenges of digital transformation for the economic and social development of the region

The event will discuss the value of digital tools for the academic community, the importance of global alliances and the role of NRENs as articulators of this whole process aiming to determine the key elements to build a common development agenda based on digital, among other topics.

In the opinion of the Executive Director of RedCLARA, Luis Eliécer Cadenas, the “Dialogue” comes at a decisive moment for the region. “Latin America urgently needs to strengthen its insertion strategy in the new digital world, and this gap is not just related to connectivity, broadband access or telecommunications services; it is extensive and involves all areas of society. Education and research are tools that can allow us to close this gap and, for that, it is essential to establish a regional agreement with the social, political and governmental actors that guide its course”, he explains.

Closing of BELLA and introduction to BELLA II

One of the most outstanding initiatives within the scope of the efforts of RedCLARA and its member networks to close this digital gap was the BELLA Programme, which, through the ELLALink submarine cable, directly connected Latin America and Europe for the first time in history. BELLA also completed the South American terrestrial infrastructure to improve intra-regional data transfer and data exchange between the two continents.

The Programme will be doubly highlighted during the Dialogue, with its formal closure and the presentation of its second stage, called BELLA II, which will seek to extend the benefits of BELLA throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

*For more information about the Dialogue, keep an eye on RedCLARA's website and social networks. This is an invite-only event. In case of doubts and/or queries, write to redclara_comunica@redclara.net.