AGP Executive Report

AI Engineering in Colombia: Leanware relaunches as an AI engineering company in Bogotá, offering four fixed-scope services plus a standalone two-week AI ROI Assessment to map where AI delivers measurable business value. Colombia in Global Marketing Tech: Stagwell (STGW) signs to acquire Colombia-based QStrauss Consulting, expanding Adobe implementation and consulting capacity via its Code and Theory network. Mobile Cybersecurity: Claro Colombia partners with Whalebone to launch Claro Shield, a network-level security service for postpaid customers in South America. Diplomacy & Cost Cutting: Colombia’s president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella plans to close 14 embassies and cut ties with Cuba and Nicaragua, aiming to save billions of pesos. Wildlife in the Classroom: A young tapir wanders into a Guaviare school, briefly interrupting class and going viral. Energy/Climate Context: A report highlights how scaling offshore wind depends on solving grid, port, and auction headwinds.

Wildlife in Classrooms: A young wild tapir (“Memo”) wandered into a public school in Colombia’s Guaviare, calmly walking through the classroom before leaving unharmed—locals say it’s become habituated to people. Cybersecurity for Mobile Users: Claro Colombia (America Móvil) partnered with Whalebone to launch Claro Shield, a network-level security service for postpaid customers, powered by Whalebone Aura. Mining Output Boost: Soma Gold received Colombia’s mining authority approval to triple production at the Aurora Mine (25 to 75 tonnes/day), with ramp-up expected over coming weeks. AI for Journalism: At Colombia’s Gabo Festival, Ana Paula Valacco argued AI’s value for news depends less on the tool and more on asking the right questions. Marine Conservation: A look at the Colombian Caribbean’s coral reefs highlights their biodiversity role and the pressures from tourism. Environmental Monitoring Tech: Bolivia launched Visión 360, a satellite-based platform for frequent forest-cover updates, and says it’s used alongside Colombia and other regional partners.

Cybersecurity in Colombia: Source Meridian says its Healthcare Data Profiler earned HITRUST e1 certification, aiming to prove stronger protection for sensitive medical data as Colombia’s cyberthreat reports keep climbing. AI for journalism: At Colombia’s Gabo Festival, Ana Paula Valacco argued AI’s value depends less on the tool and more on the questions journalists ask before adopting it. Climate risk: New research warns extreme heat and humidity could push some regions toward human survival limits more often in the coming decades, stressing public health and infrastructure impacts. Energy & infrastructure finance: CAF announced a US$9B financing framework for Colombia (2026–2030) focused on energy security, productivity infrastructure, social inclusion, and territorial strengthening. Construction materials innovation: A Colombian engineer is exploring coconut-shell-derived carbon nanotubes to extend the lifespan of concrete by reducing permeability and steel corrosion. Fintech payments: MasterCard and FXC Intelligence report Colombian SMEs are open to switching cross-border payment providers due to delays and low transparency.

Cybersecurity in Colombia: Source Meridian says its Healthcare Data Profiler earned HITRUST e1 certification as Colombia’s cyberthreats keep rising, with police logging over 19,000 cybercrime reports in early 2026. AI for journalism: At Colombia’s Gabo Festival, Ana Paula Valacco argued AI’s value comes from the questions journalists ask, not the tool itself. Climate & oceans: A new piece spotlights the Colombian Caribbean’s coral reefs and why tourism pressures put them at risk. Construction materials: A Colombian engineer is extending concrete life by turning coconut shells into carbon nanotubes that can make cement less permeable. Health research: A clinical trial story highlights how a grandfather with pancreatic cancer beat grim odds. Energy finance: CAF announced a US$9B financing framework for Colombia (2026–2030) focused on energy security, productivity infrastructure, social inclusion, and territorial strengthening. Payments tech: MasterCard/FXC Intelligence finds 9 in 10 SMEs in Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia would consider switching cross-border payment providers for faster, clearer transfers. Environment tech & nature: A Colombian-led study reports mangrove crabs breaking microplastics into smaller particles. Politics & tech-adjacent governance: Coverage of Colombia’s president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella highlights heavy-handed foreign involvement claims tied to the Trump administration.

Electric Freight in Texas: Windrose says it will deploy 10 fully electric semi trucks on the I-35 corridor, but charging “Green Hub” stations are still under construction, with high-power charging rolling out in phases. AI for Newsrooms: At Colombia’s Gabo Festival, Ana Paula Valacco argued AI won’t help journalism unless editors start with the right questions, not the tool itself. Marine Conservation (Caribbean): A new look at Colombia’s Caribbean coral reefs highlights how tourism pressures fragile ecosystems that shelter major biodiversity. Cybersecurity in Colombia: Source Meridian says its Healthcare Data Profiler earned HITRUST e1 certification as Colombia’s cyberthreats keep rising. Construction Materials: A Colombian engineer is exploring how turning coconut shells into carbon nanotubes could make cement less permeable and extend building lifespans. Payments Tech for SMEs: MasterCard and FXC Intelligence report that many Colombian SMEs are willing to switch cross-border payment providers due to delays and poor transparency. Health Tech & Trials: A case story spotlights how a pancreatic cancer patient navigated clinical trial options after limited standard choices. Energy Finance: CAF announced a US$9B financing framework for Colombia (2026–2030) focused on energy security, productivity infrastructure, social inclusion, and territorial strengthening.

Healthcare Cybersecurity in Colombia: Source Meridian says its Healthcare Data Profiler earned HITRUST e1 certification, hosted on AWS East, aiming to set a security benchmark for health data work from Medellín. Clean Energy Finance: CAF announced a US$9B financing framework for Colombia (2026–2030) focused on energy security, productivity infrastructure, social inclusion, and territorial strengthening. Local Tech & Research: A Colombian engineer is exploring how turning coconut shells into carbon nanotubes could reinforce cement, delay steel corrosion, and extend building life. Marine Conservation: A new look at Colombia’s Caribbean coral reefs highlights biodiversity value and tourism pressures along La Guajira to San Andrés and Providencia. Coffee Science: Cofermentation trends show how Colombian producers are using wine yeast and other inputs to create new flavor profiles without adding calories. Agriculture & Risk: MasterCard research finds many SMEs in Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia are open to switching cross-border payment providers due to delays and low transparency. Health Impact: A PAHO-backed study estimates nearly 470M people in the Americas live with neurological disorders, underscoring long-term care gaps.

Development Finance: CAF announced a US$9B financing framework for Colombia (2026–2030), focused on energy security, productivity infrastructure, social inclusion, and territorial strengthening. Health Tech & Cybersecurity: Medellín-based Source Meridian says its Healthcare Data Profiler earned HITRUST e1 certification on AWS, aiming to set a benchmark for protected health data handling. Agrifood Innovation: Colombia’s specialty coffee scene is pushing “coferments” (wine-yeast and fruit-based fermentation) to create new flavors without adding calories. Biosecurity Research: The U.S. is testing genetically modified screwworm flies at a Panama facility to help contain the flesh-eating livestock pest after it reappeared in Texas and New Mexico. Climate & Forecasting: Scientists warn climate change is making heat extremes hotter while U.S. budget cuts are weakening forecasting capacity, including fewer weather balloon launches. Public Health Burden: PAHO/WHO-backed research estimates nearly 470M people in the Americas live with neurological disorders, with big gaps in access to long-term care. Culture & Heritage: Cartagena’s November 11 Independence Festivities were declared Colombia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Cultural Heritage Tech & Research: Cartagena’s November 11 Independence Festivities were declared Colombia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, a win that should unlock more preservation, research, and promotion around the Afro-Caribbean tradition. Energy & Climate Tech: Ecopetrol and Germany’s GIZ signed a strategic alliance to study a pilot sustainable synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF) plant at Cartagena’s Reficar refinery, using green hydrogen and captured CO₂. Cybersecurity: Colombia’s Ecopetrol reported a cyberattack that exposed about 3,300 user accounts, adding pressure on corporate security practices. Environment & Materials Science: A Colombian-led study found mangrove fiddler crabs can fragment microplastics into smaller particles, raising new questions about how plastic pollution spreads in marine ecosystems. Public Health Data: PAHO/WHO-backed research estimates nearly 470 million people in the Americas live with neurological disorders, highlighting major long-term care gaps. Drug Policy & Security: Colombia’s outgoing government says it seized 3,300 tons of cocaine during Petro’s term, while the incoming administration faces a prison overhaul amid overcrowding and guard shortages. AI & Industry: A report projects rapid growth for AI skin analysis markets through 2033, signaling continued investment in health-adjacent AI tools. Tech in Education (Colombia tie-in): Colombia’s President-elect appointed a Dominican friar as director of the National Learning Service, a move likely to shape skills and training priorities.

Green Energy & Aviation: Ecopetrol and Germany’s GIZ signed a strategic alliance to study a pilot sustainable synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF) plant at Cartagena’s Reficar refinery, aiming to assess commercial and technical viability using nearby green hydrogen plans. Cybersecurity: Colombia’s Ecopetrol says thousands of user accounts were hit in a cyberattack, raising pressure on critical infrastructure defenses. Education & Skills: President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella named Dominican friar Ricardo Torres Castro to lead SENA, with a push to modernize tech and boost technical training’s status. Biodiversity Science: A Colombian-led study found mangrove fiddler crabs can fragment microplastics into smaller particles, potentially changing how pollution spreads in marine ecosystems. Environment & Water Risk: Research warns Colombia’s Amazon River flow through the country has dropped sharply, with the Leticia branch at risk of being cut off by 2030. Public Health Burden: A PAHO/WHO-backed study estimates nearly 470 million people in the Americas live with neurological disorders, highlighting long-term care gaps. Energy Market Growth: Tequila demand is increasingly global, with Colombia flagged among promising non-US markets. Drug & Security: Colombia reported seizing 3,300 tons of cocaine during Petro’s administration, while a separate case led to pretrial detention over 243 kilos seized in Pedro Brand.

Colombia’s Amazon at Risk: A new Universidad Nacional study warns the Amazon River’s flow through Colombia has fallen from 30% (1993) to 19.5% (June 2025), raising fears Leticia could be cut off by 2030 as more water shifts toward Peru. Child Online Safety: Colombia is consulting on rules that require platforms to build child protections in from the start and offer parental controls, taking a regulatory route that contrasts with France’s under-15 social media ban. Cyber & Politics: President Gustavo Petro says a website holding alleged electoral-fraud evidence was hit by a cyberattack, as legal challenges to the June election continue. Biosecurity Tech: U.S.-funded researchers in Panama are starting outdoor tests of genetically modified screwworm flies to fight the flesh-eating livestock pest. Public Health: PAHO/WHO-backed research estimates nearly 470 million people in the Americas live with neurological disorders, with big gaps in long-term care access. Sustainable Palm Oil Reporting: RSPO released guidance to help certified producers align palm sustainability disclosures with IFRS sustainability reporting standards. Colombian Science Infrastructure: University of Antioquia and EPM are building a Magdalena River fish DNA library, cataloging 1,270 specimens to support better species identification and protection.

Data Centers & Local Value: A Latin America infrastructure CEO says data centers should be judged by what they leave behind for local communities, not just power use. Andean Trade Law: The Andean Court of Justice takes up an unprecedented Peru illegal mining case tied to alleged failures in regional mining obligations. Colombia Mobility Tech: Gopass, Colombia’s mobility payments fintech, acquired Pluxee Flotas Colombia to expand fleet expense control and deepen its mobility ecosystem. Cybersecurity in Colombia: Kaspersky reports ransomware campaigns in Colombia and Mexico that used misconfigured systems, BitLocker drive locks, and even printed ransom notes via office printers. AI Governance: Nubank founder David Velez joins the OpenAI Foundation board, adding Latin American fintech leadership to ChatGPT’s parent organization oversight. Climate Risk: NOAA warns El Niño could become “very strong,” with a joint UN appeal seeking $202M to protect 8.8M people in high-risk countries before peak impacts. Health & Travel: The CDC flags active chikungunya outbreaks, including risk in Colombia, and advises travelers on prevention. Biodiversity & Food Heritage: A Colombian family is rescuing native potatoes and aiming to turn them into high-value products for future space missions. Human Rights & Tech: Colombia’s child recruitment crisis is highlighted in a Bogotá exhibition focused on how violence reaches kids online and offline.

Cybersecurity & Privacy: Kaspersky warns that as Colombians increasingly rely on smartphones for sensitive data, security habits lag behind—photos, IDs, chats, and even login details are piling up on mobile devices. AI Governance: Nubank founder David Velez joins the OpenAI Foundation board, adding Latin American fintech leadership to the AI organization’s oversight. Energy Grid Tech: ANDRITZ will deliver synchronous condensers to Colombia’s Enlaza to boost grid stability and help integrate more wind and solar in the Caribbean. Climate Adaptation in Cities: Medellín’s Green Corridors program—880,000 trees and millions of plants—has delivered localized cooling of up to 5°C in shaded areas. Legal Rights Online: Colombia lacks clear legal protections against social media censorship, leaving users with weak recourse when platforms remove accounts. Indigenous & Forest Policy: A Mongabay interview highlights concerns that Colombia’s incoming right-wing government could expand mining and fossil fuel activity, raising risks for Indigenous communities and forests. Disaster Preparedness: A new study flags tsunami risk along South America’s Pacific coast, including areas that could affect Colombia. Health Access via Solar: Zayed Sustainability Prize’s Beyond2020 expands solar-powered clinics in India, improving care for 200,000+ people.

Colombia Energy Transition: Colombia officially launched its first geothermal exploration project in Nariño, aiming to tap Pacific Ring of Fire heat for an estimated ~80 MW of clean power and accelerate the country’s shift away from fossil fuels. Port & Logistics Tech: LiFit Logistics rolled out a Pallet Shipment Platform in Bogotá to replace paperwork and manual updates with role-based mobile apps and real-time shipment visibility across shipyard operations. Biomanufacturing for Pandemics: IISER Pune researchers joined an international team showing decentralized, lab-scale biomanufacturing can reproduce key biological reagents using shared protocols—reducing reliance on centralized supply chains. Space-Grade Food Innovation: Colombian company Alsec earned a win in NASA/CSA’s Deep Space Food Challenge for 3D-printed food tech aimed at long-duration missions. Cyber & Copyright Crackdown: The U.S. DOJ seized 1,000+ domains used to illegally stream World Cup matches, including 1,140 in Colombia, under “Operation Offsides.” Biodiversity & Conservation: Camera traps in Antioquia’s La Romera Nature Reserve recorded puma movement, supporting the idea that regional biological corridors still help large mammals travel safely. Health & Wellness Startup: Owna Care is building Colombia’s first sexual wellness ecosystem, combining products, education, and tech to expand access.

Colombia Energy & Renewables: Colombia’s solar push keeps accelerating: the UPME’s 6GW+ dashboard shows 4,580.89 MW of solar capacity, with 3,386.22 MW already operating and 1,194.67 MW under testing—solar makes up virtually all new renewable capacity registered under the program. Colombian Conservation: A marine sanctuary expansion along the Chocó Caribbean coast now triples protected area, adding major protection for ecosystems and community-led conservation near the Panamanian border. Colombian Food Tech: Medellín startup Ecoflora says it has developed a commercially viable natural blue food coloring from jagua fruit—an effort that took about 20 years and builds on University of Antioquia research. Colombian Health & Wellness Tech: Owna Care is building Colombia’s first “sexual wellness ecosystem,” combining products, education, and tech to expand access to sexual health resources. Cybersecurity (Regional): Sophos reports ransomware attacks increasingly start with compromised identities (79%), with malicious email and phishing now the top root causes. Policy & Governance: Colombia’s incoming president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella faces an early setback after Congress voted against his senate leadership bid, forcing new alliances to advance reforms.

Colombia Tech & Energy: Ecopetrol says a ransomware attempt exposed data from 3,300 user accounts, but attackers failed to deploy the encryptor thanks to security controls, and no operational disruption is reported. Nuclear for data centers: Terra Innovatum says Waiken ILW selected its SOLO micro-modular reactor platform for up to 8 MWe of behind-the-meter power to support DIRECTV Latin America and SKY Brasil data centers. Health science: Texas A&M researchers report coffee compounds may activate NR4A1, a cellular defense system linked to protection against stress, inflammation, and age-related damage. Data/biotech methods: A Colombia-based interview highlights how NMR-based metabolomics could speed infectious disease surveillance and early detection. Environment & policy: Colombia clarified it will not authorize commercial capybara hunting. Local mining: Collective Mining advanced engineering and permitting for an exploration adit at Guayabales in Caldas, with construction targeted for Q4 2026.

Cybersecurity & Energy: Ecopetrol says a ransomware attempt exposed data from 3,300 user accounts, but attackers couldn’t deploy the encryptor thanks to security controls. Nuclear for Data Centers: Terra Innovatum says Waiken ILW will deploy its SOLO microreactor platform for up to 8 MWe of behind-the-meter power for DIRECTV Latin America and SKY Brasil data centers. Environment Policy: Colombia clarified it will not authorize commercial capybara hunting after controversy over a possible quota process. Public Health (Regional): India approved Takeda’s QDENGA dengue vaccine for ages 4–60, a first for the country. Climate & Power Demand: Electricity demand hit a July record in Ecuador, with experts warning El Niño could tighten power availability across the region. Indigenous Media Funding: Applications open for the Indigenous Community Media Fund, supporting Indigenous radio and other community media across Colombia and the Americas. Biotech & Health Research: A Colombia-based expert discusses how NMR metabolomics could speed detection of viral infections and improve infectious disease surveillance. Sustainability & Art: A Colombian artist turns organic waste into natural watercolor pigments using locally sourced plant materials.