The National Laboratory for High Performance Computing (NLHPC), part of the Infrastructure area of the Mathematical Modeling Center (CMM) of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile, actively participated in the EU–LAC Supercomputing Network scaling session, held on October 9 and 10, 2025, in Brussels, as part of the Global Gateway Forum organized by the European Commission.
During the event, an international cooperation agreement was formalized that seeks to strengthen supercomputing capabilities and promote collaborative scientific research between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean, in the context of the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for high-performance, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure.
The new EU–LAC Bi-regional Supercomputing Network connects existing infrastructures, develops capabilities, and opens up opportunities for joint innovation between the two continents, as part of the EU–LAC Digital Alliance, within the framework of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which seeks to promote a fair and sustainable global digital transformation.
Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said: “The EU–LAC Supercomputing Network demonstrates how the Global Gateway generates real value for people and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. Through the Global Gateway, we are jointly investing more than €12 million in the infrastructure and knowledge that will drive the innovations of the future, from combating climate change to developing new medicines and advancing artificial intelligence. This is a win for Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.”
Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, said: “The launch of this Network marks the implementation of a key tool that will enable the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean to work together on Artificial Intelligence, reducing gaps to ensure a fair digital transition.”
The NLHPC was represented by Prof. Jaime Ortega, principal investigator at the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CMM) and scientific director of Copernicus LAC, who participated in the meeting as a regional leader in high-performance infrastructure, consolidating Chile’s role as one of the main supercomputing hubs in Latin America.
“Being part of this network allows us to strengthen scientific collaboration between Europe and Latin America, share capabilities, and move toward a more integrated and sovereign digital infrastructure,” said Professor Ortega after signing the agreement.
A roadmap for bi-regional cooperation
As part of the EU–LAC Digital Alliance, the Joint Declaration of Intent signed by the directors of High Performance Computing (HPC) centers in the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean lays the foundations for the design, development, and implementation of the EU–LAC Supercomputing Network.
The initiative builds on previous European programs that brought together scientific and technical communities from both regions. Within this framework, the European Commission, together with the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), agreed to support the creation of this network, promote its interconnection with the European ecosystem, and strengthen cooperation in research, innovation, and digital sovereignty.
The NLHPC, as a national supercomputing infrastructure and part of the infrastructure area of the Mathematical Modeling Center (CMM), played a key role in this milestone. Its participation represents recognition of Chile’s leadership in the development and application of high-performance technologies for science, industry, and the public sector.
“This agreement marks a turning point for our region. It will allow us to join a world-class scientific collaboration network, facilitating access to advanced computing capabilities and promoting joint projects in strategic areas such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and digital health,” said Ginés Guerrero, executive director of the NLHPC.
The main objectives of the network are:
- To promote shared high-performance computing capabilities to maximize resource efficiency.
- To improve technical skills through training and education programs.
- To strengthen scientific collaboration by developing joint use cases.
- To develop and implement AI-based applications to address social challenges.
- To increase the use of the BELLA cable infrastructure, which digitally connects Europe and Latin America.
The network recognizes the joint investment of the European Union, Brazil, and Spain, as well as the key role of regional partners such as SCALAC and RedCLARA in promoting technical and scientific cooperation with a cohesive regional focus.
The session was attended by representatives from the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (Germany), CINECA (Italy), Inria (France), Barcelona Supercomputing Center (Spain), LNCC (Brazil), INESTEC (Portugal), Cluster-UY (Uruguay), as well as science and technology ministries and agencies from Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Finland, Portugal, and Mexico, among others.
Chile and the CMM: a strategic position in the region
With this agreement, the NLHPC, under the auspices of the CMM at the University of Chile, reaffirms its commitment to the development of open, collaborative supercomputing at the service of scientific research, consolidating its position as a key partner in bi-regional digital cooperation and strengthening Chile’s role as a benchmark in scientific and technological infrastructure in Latin America.
By Iván R. Tobar Bocaz and Cintia Beltrán, CMM Communications.
