History of RedCLARA

With the central aim of analyzing the possibilities for direct interconnection between the pan-European research network, GÉANT, and its national equivalents in Latin America, the year 2002 saw the emergence of the alliance between the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) of Portugal and Spain (FCCN and RedIRIS, respectively) and DANTE around the feasibility study named CAESAR (Connecting All European and South (Latin) American Researchers).

Funded by the European Commission through the Directorate-General for Information Society Technologies (EC DG IST), CAESAR was developed between March and October 2002. It took just eight months for the vision to become crystal clear: it was necessary to create a regional backbone network in Latin America and connect it to GÉANT.

During the first CAESAR meeting, held on March 1, 2002, in Madrid, none of the representatives from FCCN, RedIRIS, and DANTE could have suspected what would happen just a few months later; we refer to the Toledo Workshop, held on June 13 and 14, at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Toledo, Spain), with the central financial support of RedIRIS.

The Toledo Workshop, which brought together, around the issue of continental interconnection, 15 top representatives of organizations dedicated to the development of research and education networks (or related) from twelve Latin American countries, representatives from the Committee of Policies of the NRENs of Europe, representatives from DANTE, and delegates from the European Commission. Only two days were needed for what seemed like a long-lasting dream: the representatives of the Latin American networks committed to cooperating in the creation and organization of a regional infrastructure for research, education, and innovation.

The initial impact of this Workshop did not fade over time; quite the contrary. Just two weeks after Toledo, the Latin American networks organized their own grouping, CLARA (Cooperación Latino Americana de Redes Avanzadas), and united under this new entity, on July 15 and 16, just one month after the Workshop that had renewed their hope, they met in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) to advance the agreements made during the Toledo meeting. Such was the progress that on July 16, the participating networks in that meeting, who had not been part of the June meeting, now united in CLARA, also subscribed to what was already called the "Toledo Declaration":

Toledo Declaration

On Research and Education Networks in Latin America

"Gathered in the City of Toledo, on June 13 and 14, 2002, at the initiative of the European Commission, the signatories, members of networks from Latin America, recognize:

"1. The importance for the academic and research community of Latin America to have a regional data communication structure based on advanced networks that allow for better cooperation in the academic and research fields.

"2. The efforts made by the European Commission for the development of a Global Information Society project, where the academic space is considered in a special way.

"3. That it is necessary to make a similar integration effort, not only at the level of our respective countries but also at the regional and global levels.

"For the foregoing, we declare:

"1. That the existence of national research and education networks (NRENs) is necessary.

"2. That it is desirable to establish a Latin American research network, based on the existing networks in the various countries.

"3. That cooperation is agreed upon in the development of national networks in countries where they do not exist, and the creation of a coordination space for their integration and coordinated regional development.

"4. That in view of the possibility of obtaining financing from the European Commission, through @LIS, it is necessary to coordinate efforts in the interconnection of research and education networks, and propose the creation of a Latin American regional coordination group for this purpose. For this purpose, Nelson Simões (Brazil) and Sidia Sánchez (Panama) are appointed.

"5. That prior to the next workshop proposed to be held by the European Union with members of the networks from Latin America in September, the representatives of Toledo agree to hold two regional meetings to establish criteria for the organization of the Latin American network. The first of the meetings will take place in Brazil on July 15, 2002. And the second one a month later."

The Toledo Declaration was signed by: Nelson Simões – RNP (Rede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa, Brazil), Sidia Moreno de Sánchez – PanNet (Red Académica y de Investigación Nacional, Panama), Carlos Casasús – CUDI (Corporación Universitaria para el Desarrollo de la Internet, Mexico), Carlos Francisco Frank – RETINA (Red Teleinformática Académica, Argentina), Clifford Paravicini Hurtado – BolNet (Red Boliviana de Comunicación de Datos, Bolivia), Florencio Ignacio Utreras Díaz – REUNA (Red Universitaria Nacional – Chile), Ida Holz Baird – RAU (Red Académica Uruguaya, Uruguay), Jorge Luis LópezPresmanes – RedUniv (Red Universitaria, Cuba), Pablo José A. G. Herken – UNA/CNC (Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Paraguay), Rafael Antonio Ibarra Fernández - RAICES (El Salvador), and Sandro Venturo – Red Científica Peruana (Peru).

In addition to signing the Declaration, at the Rio de Janeiro meeting, working groups were established to address issues related to the future presentation of the Latin American network project and its interconnection with Europe, the @LIS (Alliance for the Information Society) Program of the European Commission, namely: regional connectivity, interconnection with GÉANT, organizational model, and financing. Regarding CLARA, the executives gathered in Brazil agreed that it would have the function of representation and coordination, initially composed of an elected committee and then becoming a consortium of NRENs, which would be the starting point for future regional organizations in networks, and that it would begin as an informal organization, which by March 2003 could become a formal organization, through a model to be proposed jointly by the Latin American NRENs.

June 3, 2003: The ALICE project, Latin America Interconnected with Europe, officially began as a the tangible proof that the mission carried out by CAESAR had been fulfilled.

It was a Tuesday on June 3 when officials from the European Commission and representatives from DANTE gathered, within the framework of the @LIS program, to sign the contract that, valued at €12.5 million, would be used for the creation of an infrastructure promising to connect Latin American research networks at an intra-regional level and interconnect them with the pan-European network GÉANT. The European Commission thus gave its definitive approval for 80% of the financing for the ALICE project (€10 million), with the Latin American partners committing to the remaining 20% (€2.5 million), and the world saw how the declaration made by the Heads of State and Government during the last Summit between the European Union and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (Madrid, June 2002) materialized: "Scientific research and technical development are fundamental elements in our relations and are essential for the successful integration of countries in a globalized world. It is important to share knowledge, technology, and information, taking advantage of infrastructure connectivity and promoting widespread access."

The signing of the ALICE contract also marked the first definitive step toward establishing broader cooperation for the development of the Global Research and Education Network, as proposed in the European Commission Communication on the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society[3], which would take place in Geneva in December 2003.

ALICE aimed to create a research network infrastructure in Latin America and interconnect it with its European counterpart, GÉANT, using the Internet Protocol (IP). To carry out this major objective, DANTE - the institution responsible for managing GÉANT - as the coordinator of the ALICE project, partnered in Europe with the NRENs of Spain (RedIRIS), France (RENATER), Italy (GARR), and Portugal (FCCN). On the other side of the Atlantic, in the heart of Latin America, which was preparing to experience the wonders of transoceanic connection, ALICE partnered with CLARA and the NRENs of the 18 countries whose participation was accepted under the @LIS program regulations: RETINA (Argentina), ADSIB (Bolivia), RNP (Brazil), REUNA (Chile), Universidad del Cauca (Colombia), CRnet (Costa Rica), RedUniv (Cuba), CEDIA (Ecuador), RAICES (El Salvador), RAGIE (Guatemala), UNITEC (Honduras), CUDI (Mexico), CNU on behalf of RENIA (Nicaragua), RedCyT (Panama), ARANDU (Paraguay), RAP (Peru), RAU (Uruguay), and REACCIUN (Venezuela).

CAESAR had shown that there was no direct connectivity between the Latin American NRENs, let alone a connection with the pan-European research network, GÉANT, and that this lack hindered research collaboration both within Latin America and between Latin America and Europe. ALICE would demonstrate that these issues could be overcome through cooperative work; for this, it had a deadline extending until April 2006. Of course, history had more to say on this matter, and because of this, the Project received authorization for two temporary extensions (the budget remained in accordance with the contract of June 3, 2003), and its end date was set for March 2008.

Prior to the signing of the contract that established, within the context of the already established Information Society, the beginning of a new era for Latin America, the leaders of the existing Latin American NRENs and those who had been designated in their countries to create them, during the second semester of 2002, held four meetings aimed at the creation of CLARA: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) on July 15 and 16, and September 25; Buenos Aires (Argentina) on October 10 and 11, and Santiago (Chile) on November 18 and 19. In these meetings, as expected - given the evident commitment - members of CAESAR and officials from the European Commission also participated.

Agreements had to be established in accordance with the interests of all parties - nothing less than nations - involved. Nothing could be left to chance. The future of collaboration in Latin America and with Europe was the great gamble being played on the board.

On June 10, 2003, just seven days after the ALICE project officially began, a major announcement was made from the Mexican city of Valle de Bravo to Latin America, Europe, and the rest of the world: CLARA has been born; the Articles of Association have been signed by the representatives of thirteen Latin American countries:

"MINUTES No. 1. In the city of Valle de Bravo, State of Mexico, in the United Mexican States, on the tenth of June, two thousand three, the undersigned persons gather, presided over by Carlos Casasús López Hermosa, who attests to his identity with Mexican passport number 00370039662, and acting as Secretary Ida Holz Baird, who attests to her identity with Uruguayan identification number 670.625-8, with the purpose of founding a non-profit non-governmental organization to be called: LATIN AMERICAN COOPERATION OF ADVANCED NETWORKS (CLARA), and whose Articles of Association, previously known to those present, approved unanimously by those present, are transcribed below:

CONSTITUTIVE ACT OF

LATIN AMERICAN COOPERATION OF ADVANCED NETWORKS,

CIVIL ASSOCIATION

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

CHAPTER I

DENOMINATION, DOMICILE, NATIONALITY, and DURATION

ARTICLE 1. Under the name of LATIN AMERICAN COOPERATION OF ADVANCED NETWORKS, known in abbreviated form as CLARA, a Civil Association (hereinafter, CLARA or the Association) is created, governed by these Articles of Association and by the applicable laws and regulations, with its headquarters in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Association may, when it deems appropriate, open offices or any other type of facilities in any other cities of any country to fulfill its purpose.

ARTICLE 2. CLARA is a non-profit organization that may receive income, which will be entirely applied to promote the educational, scientific, and cultural activities that constitute its purpose.

ARTICLE 3. The duration of the Association is indefinite.

ARTICLE 4. The purpose of the Association is: a) Coordination between the National Academic Networks of Latin America and with other blocs; b) Cooperation for the promotion of scientific and technological development; c) Planning and implementation of network services for regional interconnection, and d) Development of a regional network (hereinafter, CLARA Network) to interconnect the national academic and research networks that will be operated by its Associates. To fulfill its objectives, CLARA is authorized to carry out the following: a) Collect, through fees contributed by its Associates, the necessary resources for the operation of the network; b) Promote the integration of academic and research organizations, and serve as a link for cooperation, exchange of experiences, and information between them; c) Establish mechanisms for in-person or remote participation to have the active participation of the aforementioned; d) Develop all kinds of relevant activities or related to the development of academic and scientific networks in Latin America and the Caribbean; e) Acquire, build, or own all kinds of movable and immovable property and real rights necessary to satisfy its purpose; f) Enter into all acts and contracts, execute operations, and grant documents necessary for the fulfillment of its purpose, all in accordance with these Articles of Association; g) Receive cooperations and donations to contribute to the fulfillment of its purpose. Also seek financing from scientific-technological promotion organizations and international technical cooperation; h) Hold meetings, forums, workshops, congresses, and any event that serves to disseminate, at a regional level, the activities, projects, and developments on academic and scientific networks, and i) Maintain and publish updated statistical information on the development of the Internet in the region, in the areas and topics that are within its competence and knowledge."

NOTE: These Articles of Association ceased to be effective on June 29, 2011, the date on which the current Bylaws of the corporation were signed.

Participants in the Signing of the Constitutive Act in Valle de Bravo, Mexico

Forty-seven articles and four transitional provisions, agreed upon on June 9, signed that Wednesday, the 10th of the sixth month of 2003, the highest authorities in academic networks who, to date, were charting the forward path of the Latin American continent; namely:

• Carlos Francisco Frank, RETINA – Argentina.

• Nelson Simões Da Silva, RNP – Brazil.

• Florencio Utreras, REUNA – Chile.

• Guy F. De Teramond, CRNET - Costa Rica.

• Marcos Molina Jurado, FUNDACYT – Ecuador.

• Rafael Antonio Ibarra Fernández, RAICES - El Salvador.

• Ramón Alberto Sarmiento Castro, UNITEC – Honduras.

• Carlos Casasús López Hermosa, CUDI – Mexico.

• Azael Barrera Garrido, REDCYT – Panama.

• Blanca Troche de Trevisan, ARANDU – Paraguay.

• Manuel Burga, RAP – Peru.

• Ida Holz Baird, RAU – Uruguay.

• Jorge Luis Berrizbeitia Ponce, REACCIUN – Venezuela.

However, the signatures of the representatives of Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, and Nicaragua were pending. Within ALICE, the news was celebrated with happiness and hope. The value of the union that was established, with the strength of the legally signed document, in Latin America, could be measured in the projection of universities and research centers potentially benefiting from the new alliance.

In the framework of the @LIS2 program, on November 30, 2008, the European Commission (EC) signed an €18 million contract with RedCLARA, for the realization of the ALICE2 project. The promise of the Project was that it would give continuity to the immense achievements of its predecessor, ALICE (which had been led by DANTE, the institution in charge of the pan-European network GÉANT), was to consolidate and extend RedCLARA in Latin America, improving connectivity between Latin American and European researchers.

Providing a lasting, world-class e-Infrastructure for collaborative research and education and, through it, supporting Latin American development, was the brilliant goal and the Project achieved it.

ALICE2 would work to disseminate the potential of using RedCLARA for the generation and implementation of applications that would have an impact in the region, thus helping to achieve the goals agreed by the Governments in the MDG Plan (Millennium Development Goals) of the UN (United Nations) and those of the Seventh Framework Program (FP7) of the EC.

December 2008 marked the start of ALICE2 and although its end date was set for September 2012, the @LIS2 Program granted an extension in the execution deadline until January 2013.

Coordinated by RedCLARA, the Project had as partners the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) of 14 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, all @LIS2 beneficiaries), four Europeans (Spain, France, Italy and Portugal) and the international organizations RedCLARA and DANTE (a non-profit organization that works in partnership with European NRENs to plan, build and operate advanced research and education networks in the old continent, with co-funding from the EC).

Five were the outcomes that ALICE2 committed itself to pursue on November 30, 2008:

1. A durable, high quality, scalable and low maintenance cost infrastructure, RedCLARA2, which will become the baseline infrastructure for research and education collaboration within Latin America and with Europe.

2. A set of user communities (researchers, educators, students) working together to solve MDG issues and participating in ALFA and FP7 calls.

3. A strong, well-managed, participatory and sustainable organization with a clear funding model.

4. A network with wide coverage in the Latin American region with strong links to the Caribbean.

5. A large group of technicians, managers and community leaders, empowered to collaborate with their European counterparts and take advantage of funding opportunities.

These five results would be achieved through the implementation of actions aimed at meeting the Project's objectives, as follows:

• To maintain and continue the development of the RedCLARA infrastructure with the delivery of a continuous, inclusive and persistent environment for electronic collaboration for research and education in Latin America, with emphasis on supporting a collaborative space for higher education and research between Latin America and Europe. This enhanced version of RedCLARA will be based on long-term contracts (IRU: Irrevocable Right of Use) for use of dark fiber and wavelengths, to ensure low recurring costs.

• Create user communities to ensure the use of RedCLARA in MDG related applications, as well as promote collaboration within Latin America and with European researchers on FP7 priorities and strengthen collaboration with European initiatives such as: ESO Astronomical Observatories, Pierre Auger Observatories and others.

• Develop a funding model that provides long-term stability and sustainability for Latin American regional research and education networks. This model will be based on a stronger RedCLARA organization, a widely adopted cost sharing scheme and a solid financial administration.

• Consolidate RedCLARA's existing long-term geographic coverage, and seek to expand it to include the developing research and education communities of Latin American countries, and continue to contribute to the digital inclusion of the region through its research and education communities. To do this, the Project will seek to involve all Latin American countries in the initiative and generate synergies with the NRENs, creating a terrestrial communications infrastructure that can also be used locally to build or extend the NRENs.

• Strengthen the NRENs and their user communities to become active members of the global research and education network community, providing training and tools for their technical, management and academic communities.

Naturally, in addition to these objectives, there was the Visibility objective, related to all the tasks of disseminating the Project's actions.

And the goals were all met.

Within the framework of the ALICE2 Project, and with the clearly established objective of long-term sustainability of RedCLARA, an analysis work was carried out that included all member networks of RedCLARA and resulted in the drafting, approval, signing and entry into force of the new bylaws of the corporation, on June 29, 2011.

Download the Statutes of the Latin American Cooperation of Advanced Networks here (June 29, 2011; PDF format).