News

Within the framework of the BELLA II programme, RedCLARA will hold the launch webinar of the Early Adopters Programme for the Bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence (BIO+AI) Testbed on 4 March. The initiative aims to promote the strategic use of the regional platform to strengthen research projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The webinar will officially launch the programme and provide a detailed overview of its objectives, requirements, benefits and the opportunities it offers to the region's scientific and innovation ecosystem.

The virtual event will take place at 16:00 GMT (11:00 in Colombia and 13:00 in Chile) and registration is now open: Launch Webinar Registration – Early Adopters BIO+IA.

Strengthening Research Projects

The BIO+IA Testbed offers access to high-performance infrastructure and specialised support, enhancing life sciences research. Through the Early Adopters Programme, the initiative aims to promote the effective use of these capabilities and support the development of projects that have an impact at a regional level.

The programme's goal is to collaborate with selected teams to develop scientific solutions that integrate bioinformatics and AI, producing applicable results and reference cases for Latin America and the Caribbean.

"This initiative responds to the increasing use of bioinformatics supported by artificial intelligence — a vital tool for understanding complex diseases, developing more precise therapies and accelerating scientific discovery. The programme supports proposals that generate useful knowledge for the region," explained Julián Londoño, Services Analyst at RedCLARA.

Who can apply?

The call is open to universities, research centres, university hospitals, start-ups, academic spin-offs, research groups, PhD candidates and thesis students involved in life sciences and innovation within the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) ecosystem.

Between four and five initiatives will be selected. Applicants must present a clearly defined research problem, have a team with the necessary expertise, and be able to commit 10–15 hours per week for eight weeks.

The programme runs from April to June 2026, comprising four stages: a launch and call for proposals; proposal evaluation; training and platform work; and a final Demo Day to present the achieved results. Selected initiatives will receive three months of free access to the platform, specialised training, technical and scientific mentoring, a participation certificate, regional visibility and participation in the closing Demo Day.

This initiative is led by RedCLARA, the BELLA II project and the region's NRENs, in collaboration with the University of the Andes of Venezuela (ULA) and other academic and scientific partners.

About BELLA II Testbeds

BELLA II testbeds are specialised, secure and controlled environments designed for experimenting with, testing and evaluating technologies and systems. They replicate real operational conditions as closely as possible, enabling researchers, developers and other users to gain insights, identify challenges, test solutions and assess the performance and effectiveness of innovations before implementing them in a production environment.

BELLA II is a regional initiative led by RedCLARA and co-funded by the European Union. The initiative aims to reduce the digital divide and support the development of the infrastructure required to consolidate and expand a digital ecosystem for science, technology, education, and innovation. BELLA II seeks to strengthen and expand the digital ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean by facilitating collaboration and exchanges between companies, research centres, educational institutions, and National Research and Education Networks. This aligns with strategic objectives relating to education, science, technology, and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Europe.

Key Information for Registration

Launch webinar – Early Adopters Programme: BIO+IA
Date: 4 March 2026
Time: 16:00 GMT | 11:00 Colombia | 13:00 Chile
Target audience: Universities, research centres, university hospitals, start-ups, spin-offs, research groups, PhD candidates and thesis students in the life sciences
Registration: Launch Webinar Registration – Early Adopters Programme BIO+IA