The testbeds of the BELLA II project have been featured in the latest edition of CONNECT, the magazine published by GÉANT, the pan-European research and education network. The article, titled "Driving digital innovation: BELLA II’s experimental platforms," highlights how these advanced technological environments for experimentation and innovation are strengthening digital collaboration between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
The piece also emphasizes the strategic role of these testbeds as trial spaces and true digital laboratories, where innovative ideas can be validated before becoming real-world solutions. These platforms were launched at the end of 2024 by the BELLA II project, a cutting-edge initiative led by RedCLARA and co-funded by the European Union, which seeks to enhance the digital ecosystem of Latin America and the Caribbean and foster interconnection with Europe to address development challenges.
With the setup of these specialized areas—focused on blockchain, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing (HPC)—BELLA II has made a big move toward creating a safe and cooperative technology system aimed at solving real-world problems in important areas like science, education, digital government, and industry.
Two of these Testbeds—those focused on blockchain and HPC—are already operational, while a third, dedicated to cybersecurity, is under development. All have been conceived as controlled experimentation environments, where researchers, developers, and institutions can validate complex technological solutions under realistic conditions, minimizing risks and costs before large-scale implementation.
In addition to the spotlight on BELLA II's Testbeds, Issue 49 of CONNECT features a wide range of content from the advanced networking community. It includes interviews, talent development programs, new interest groups, and contributions from national and partner networks on topics such as education, international connectivity, open science, cybersecurity, and digital public services.
GÉANT maintains a strategic collaboration with RedCLARA—its counterpart in Latin America and the Caribbean—to strengthen digital infrastructure, collaboration, and innovation across both regions. This partnership has been instrumental in the development and implementation of BELLA II, a project that, in its first two years, is already showing concrete progress, vision, and commitment to digital transformation.
Read the full article on the testbeds here:
https://connect.geant.org/2025/06/10/driving-digital-innovation-bella-iis-experimental-platforms
Explore the full issue (in English):
https://connect.geant.org
