In the framework of the Digital Alliance between Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, RedCLARA and the national research and education networks (NRENs) are promoting the adoption, training, deployment, and promotion of the Earth observation strategy in the region.

On February 21, Mexico officially joined the countries that have implemented the Copernicus Academy, marking this milestone with an initial webinar that commenced the Academy's deployment in the country.

On June 27 and 28, the deployment progressed with the second and third steps of the strategy designed by RedCLARA. The University of Guadalajara hosted an in-person workshop named "Application and Processing of Copernicus Data" and the first strategic meeting for the formation of Mexico's National Committee.

Laura Castellana, Academic Projects Coordinator at RedCLARA, explained that the implementation of the Copernicus Academy in Mexico continues to advance strongly with the following key stages, beginning with this in-person workshop and subsequently the formation of the National Committee in collaboration with Mexican universities and government.

The University Corporation for Internet Development (CUDI), acting as the National Network, leads the entire deployment, while RedCLARA supports and coordinates actions with the National Network, according to Castellana.

Outreach in the Dominican Republic

The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (Mescyt) held a meeting in the Dominican Republic to present the Copernicus program and explain RedCLARA's deployment strategy for the Copernicus Academy in member countries.

Castellana highlighted, "This project adds value to connectivity and is of great interest to the countries." During the visit, the program's outreach made significant progress, leading to a deeper understanding and firm commitment from Dominican authorities and universities. The meeting also featured a discussion with rectors from the Central American Higher University Council (CSUCA) about RedCLARA, the BELLA II project, and the Copernicus Academy.

The Copernicus Academy aims to strengthen capacities and knowledge management to leverage the data and information services of the European Union's (EU) Earth observation program, Copernicus. Currently, countries like Uruguay, Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador are progressing through these stages with excellent results.

More than 200 people, including experts, academics, specialists, and government representatives, gathered for the webinar "From Sky to Earth," the first step in the Copernicus Academy's deployment strategy in Guatemala. This event marked a milestone in the country's collaboration with the European Union in digital transformation and Earth observation.

Luis Cadenas, Executive Director of RedCLARA, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "The installation of the Copernicus Academy brings numerous applications and benefits for research, academia, governance, and the country's productive sector. It is a great opportunity for stakeholders in Guatemala to access and use these tools in their daily activities."

He added that this effort resulted from close collaboration between RedCLARA and the European Union delegation in Guatemala, supported by the National Secretariat of Science and Technology of Guatemala (Senacyt), the National Research and Education Network of Guatemala, and the Copernicus Program through the EU Space Support Office and EUreCA.

Claudia Barillas, Task Manager of the European Union in Guatemala, stated that this support marks a new phase of collaboration for the country's digital transformation. "We have a long history of working with Guatemala through policies, programs, and investments, and this initiative represents a new step in supporting the country's digital transformation."

Gabriela Montenegro, Secretary of Science and Technology at Senacyt, emphasized the innovative impact of the Copernicus Academy and highlighted technological advances. "Data transforms various areas and is essential for research, food security, urban planning, and climate change. Copernicus is a key tool for evidence-based decision-making and developing Earth observation capabilities."

Gabriel Barrientos, leader of the Copernicus Academy process for Guatemala from the Universidad del Valle, provided details about this initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"The Copernicus Academy is part of the BELLA II project, which connects the region with Europe, though it is not the Copernicus program itself," he explained. Barrientos underscored the Academy's role as a network that fosters capacity building and knowledge management in Earth observation domains, utilizing data from the Copernicus Program to foster collaboration among diverse players in the region's digital ecosystem.

"The Academy's objectives include capacity development and dissemination of data provided by Copernicus, which is freely available to academics, governments, the private sector, and the general public." It also seeks to foster development and promote interdisciplinary groups at international and continental levels to cultivate new skills. The intention is to keep this information accessible to everyone to foster collaborative innovation," Barrientos explained.

Roberto Matellanes, from the European Union Space Support Office (EUSSO), detailed the Copernicus project. This project constitutes the Earth observation component of the EU Space Program, managed by the European Commission and in collaboration with member states. It provides operationally free data and information services across various application areas.

"You can use these free and openly accessible data without restrictions." This availability significantly contributes to preparedness for crises, security risks, and natural or human-made disasters," he said. Additionally, he highlighted that this initiative represents a crucial tool for economic development and acts as a driving force for the digital economy. To date, users have downloaded 719 petabytes (equivalent to 719,000,000 gigabytes), underscoring the high interest and relevance of this resource for the community.

"The Copernicus Academy is poised to be a fundamental support for the installation and use of advanced technologies in Guatemala, promoting a national project that seeks to address critical issues and improve the population's well-being through innovation and access to precise data," he said in his presentation.

Step by step.

The Copernicus Academy deployment in Guatemala follows a clearly defined process. Following this informative webinar, the participants completed a survey. As a second step, a workshop will be organized to train and prepare the interested parties. Thirdly, we will constitute a national committee. Finally, we will schedule the implementation of a pilot plan for the second half of 2024.

This process is already underway in countries like Mexico, Ecuador, and Uruguay, while Chile and Panama serve as offices of the Copernicus program in Latin America.

To view the "From Sky to Earth" webinar, click on this YouTube link.