LACNIC scales R&D Ambassador program
LACNIC is expanding its R&D Ambassadors initiative to fund regional internet infrastructure and digital transformation projects — a push that could supply local tech talent and tools for bespoke hospitality systems in the Caribbean. That creates a pipeline for partnerships supporting custom logistics, inventory, and guest-facing platforms. (blog.lacnic.net)
LACNIC announced the 2026 call for its R&D Ambassadors program on March 23, 2026, opening applications for a new cohort to work on regional Internet infrastructure projects. (lacnic.net) The 2026 edition will select up to three ambassadors, offers up to US$2,000 per selected project to support deployments, and guarantees a presentation slot at LACNIC 47; the call closes 29 May 2026 (23:59 UTC-3). (lacnic.net) Program objectives listed by LACNIC explicitly include deploying +RAICES anycast/DNS nodes, organizing deployathons and measurement platform rollouts, and running BGP collectors while promoting IPv6, RPKI/ROA creation and DNS/DNSSEC adoption. (lacnic.net) LACNIC’s R&D Ambassadors initiative has run multiple cohorts: five ambassadors began activities in June 2024, and the 2025 selected ambassadors include Fernando Tipiani (Peru), David Macmahon (Colombia) and José Augusto Canul (Mexico). (blog.lacnic.net) Past ambassador projects presented at LACNIC events have included expansion of RIPE Atlas measurement probes (reported work in Chile) and an increase in active probes in Bolivia, alongside workshops on IPv6 transition and RPKI/routing security. (blog.lacnic.net) LACNIC frames the R&D Ambassadors effort as a regional capacity-building program covering Latin America and the Caribbean and explicitly aims to develop new technical leaders across different countries in the region. (lacnic.net)
