Ibero-American Nations Adopt New Open Science Plan
The 2nd ministerial conference in Alicante establishes a framework to boost regional cooperation in science and technology.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Science — General
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Ministers and officials from Ibero-American nations adopted the Alicante Declaration to advance an Action Plan for Open Science. The initiative aims to align scientific capabilities with public policy to address shared regional challenges.
Why it matters
The declaration bridges scientific knowledge with foreign policy, asserting that regional cooperation is vital for solving issues like climate change and inequality. It establishes a collaborative framework to strengthen innovation across the Ibero-American space.
The conference marked the 2nd edition of this ministerial gathering, focusing on five core missions including food, climate change, digitalization, health, and energy transition. The IBEROEKA program is designated to monitor the progress of these goals.
The players
Walter Baluja Garcia
He led the Cuban delegation during the ministerial conference held in Spain.
The details
The newly adopted action plan promotes the use of Spanish and Portuguese as scientific languages and proposes an Ibero-American Supercomputing Network. Participants also intend to create a space for dialogue on science diplomacy to better integrate research into foreign policy.
Timeline
October 23, 2026: The Cuban delegation participated in the conference in Alicante, Spain.
The Big Picture
The adoption of the Alicante Declaration marks a fundamental shift toward institutionalized science diplomacy in the region. By formalizing this framework, participating nations are moving away from fragmented research efforts toward a unified strategy for collective innovation.
The proposed Ibero-American Supercomputing Network and the focus on digitalization could eventually facilitate faster scientific breakthroughs and data sharing across member nations. These initiatives may lead to more efficient cross-border research projects in climate science and healthcare.
The takeaway
The transition toward open science and shared innovation strategies suggests a growing reliance on international partnerships to solve complex technical problems. Implementing these frameworks could significantly streamline how nations collaborate on critical infrastructure like supercomputing and climate modeling.
Further reading
For broader trends in global scientific cooperation, visit Science — General.
More information
Find additional details on the conference proceedings at the Spanish Ministry of Science website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cuban News Agency.
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