In September 2016, exactly 10 years ago, Montevideo hosted the first edition of the Open Science Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean (CILAC), launching a regional space aimed at strengthening the links between science, technology, innovation and public policy. Under the theme “Transforming our region,” that first edition brought together 1,300 participants across around 100 activities and convened authorities and leading members of the scientific community from different parts of the world. Ten years later, CILAC has become established as a regional platform connecting governments, academia, international organizations, the private sector, civil society and the scientific community.
The journey continued in Panama City in 2018 with a second edition under the theme “Science connects,” bringing together 1,600 participants and featuring around 60 activities on topics such as sustainable cities, the new bioeconomy and resilient territories. In 2021, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, CILAC adapted and moved its third edition online. Originally planned to take place in Buenos Aires and held under the theme “Science that includes,” it reached 7,000 participants and became the edition with the highest participation and regional reach up to that point, with an agenda encompassing artificial intelligence, the digital economy, climate change, inclusive science and the scientific response to the pandemic.
The fourth edition brought the Forum to San Andrés Island, Colombia, in 2024, in a hybrid format and under the theme “Science that dialogues.” More than 3,300 people took part in around 70 activities, with participants from more than 46 countries and over 2,400 people joining online. The Ocean Decade, open science, artificial intelligence for environmental sustainability, the new space economy and science for the protection of life were among the major themes of an edition that once again demonstrated CILAC’s ability to respond to the region’s transformations and priorities.
Over these ten years, however, CILAC has become much more than an event. Between editions, the platform keeps a regional community active through virtual gatherings, publications, institutional networks, digital campaigns and interactive content. The #ScienceInMotion series has brought together more than 35,000 participants in virtual dialogues with regional and international experts, while CILAC has promoted dozens of documents and policy briefs on strategic issues in science, technology and innovation. These efforts are complemented by maps, infographics, content portals, regional calendars and other resources designed to bring knowledge, experiences and debates closer to diverse audiences.
