Today, the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has become the epicentre of technological and scientific collaboration for Latin America and the Caribbean with the launch of TICAL 2024, the flagship event of RedCLARA. This year’s edition has brought together nearly 200 participants, including academics, technology experts, and regional leaders, to strengthen alliances and explore new solutions in critical areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), e-Health, open science, sustainability, and cybersecurity.
Running from 5-8 December, the event will feature a comprehensive programme of lectures, panel discussions and workshops designed to foster the exchange of knowledge and strategies to address the region's technological and educational challenges. International experts will provide a global perspective, enriching the dialogue and encouraging transnational collaboration and the development of new ideas.
The opening session was chaired by Luis Eliécer Cadenas, Executive director of RedCLARA, and Nelson Simões, general director of RNP. Both highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in driving digital transformation and addressing development challenges.
"Regional cooperation is our greatest strength. The achievements we've made are the result of joint efforts, with long-term goals that promote social and economic development," said Cadenas. He also stressed that this is a pivotal moment for RedCLARA and the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in a region full of technological and human potential. "We are ready to unleash our full potential and make a lasting impact. The future is being built today, through collaboration and purpose," he concluded.
Nelson Simões, General Director of RNP, underlined that cooperation not only enables the construction of robust technological infrastructures, but also creates inclusive opportunities for academic, educational and social development. He highlighted landmark projects such as BELLA II, which improve regional connectivity and open up new opportunities for open science and knowledge sharing.
"Every time we come together, we manage to plan and achieve what once seemed impossible. #TICAL2024 symbolizes looking to the future, with collaboration as our greatest tool," he added.
The opening day's agenda focused on the importance and challenges of AI in education, the development of open science infrastructures, and the transformative impact of technology on healthcare access and quality across the region.
RedCLARA's Academic Relations Manager, Tania Altamirano, received special recognition from the Latin American Telemedicine University Network (RUTE-AL) for her contributions to strengthening this initiative. RUTE-AL connects academic institutions, research centres and healthcare organizations across the region, fostering collaboration, capacity building and innovation in telemedicine and digital health.
The day will conclude with a roundtable discussion on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in open science, providing a space for participants to exchange ideas and insights.
TICAL2024 is organised by RedCLARA and the BELLA II project, with support from the Brazilian Advanced Network RNP. It is sponsored by Nokia, Calriz, SheerID, Ruckus, Q13 and Escola Superior de Redes (ESR).
