The Government launched Open Digital Lab in an activity that took place on December 3 at the Technological Laboratory of Uruguay (LATU) and was broadcasted via Zoom.
Open Digital Lab is a joint public-private initiative developed by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), Antel, LATU, the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII), the Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technology (CUTI) and UTE, focused on the validation and adoption of technologies and applications, through tests in a controlled environment that simulates real environments.
During its launching, the speakers were the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Omar Paganini; the president of Antel, Gabriel Gurméndez, and the president of LATU, Ruperto Long.
Through videoconference interviews were shared with the president of UTE, Silvia Emaldi; the president of ANII, Flavio Caiafa; and the president of CUTI, Leonardo Loureiro.
The open digital lab will have state-of-the-art technologies and connectivity so that interested companies can test and trial innovative solutions.
This initiative will promote the generation of knowledge, industrial development and the necessary conditions to accelerate the internationalization of companies and the attraction of future investments.
Open Digital Lab has been created to develop local innovation, with the potential to export knowledge in various areas of interest, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, machine-to-machine communications, Industry 4.0, 5G-related technologies (radio frequency, antennas, modulation systems, data protocols, planning and monitoring systems), cybersecurity for infrastructure, agrotech, autonomous vehicles, among others.
Another of the objectives pursued is to attract foreign companies to invest in research and development in our country. This initiative will also increase the productivity of industries, boost the generation of new services and strengthen the government's management tools, positioning Uruguay as a technology testing country.
Open and innovative
At the launch, Minister Paganini said that currently "information technologies today are turning towards big data, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, a next-generation connectivity". For this reason, from the Government, it was defined that "an ecosystem where companies cooperate" of communication, software, energy and other sectors is required.
With this premise as a base, LATU was the natural place chosen to create this state-of-the-art technology ecosystem, whose platform will allow Uruguayan and foreign companies to test their products, services and applications in a controlled and safe space, explained Paganini.
"It's a smart campus, an innovation ecosystem," he summed up.
The minister considered that this is a strategic project for the country for two reasons. Firstly, because carrying out tests of this type - which require, for example, artificial intelligence - is complex if done in isolation, even for powerful companies in the area of information and communication technologies (ICT), such as the Uruguayan ones.
Secondly, it is strategic "to attract leading companies from abroad, which also serve to boost the ecosystem," he added. Some of them have already shown interest, added the Secretary of State.
The basic concept of this project is that of open innovation, which implies cooperation to develop innovation, said Paganini. He explained that this is the prevailing trend in the world, which is attractive to foreign companies, as well as the fact that CUTI, a participant in the laboratory, integrates companies that have shown a great capacity for development and can grow even more thanks to Open Digital Lab. For this, they will also have the support of ANII.
As examples of what will happen in the laboratory, Paganini said that it will be possible to install intelligent electric energy meters or traffic sensors in the roads. The information obtained will be processed and will permit to extend it to the cities to optimize the traffic as well as the energetic consumption.
It will also be possible to work with the various data provided by buildings through IoT, thanks to 5G technology. The applications of these technologies are extremely broad, ranging from telemedicine to monitoring animals in the field.
"It's riding the wave of innovation, empowering it further with an open lab," the minister said. "We are very excited. This shows the potential of partnerships and creating an ecosystem," he concluded.
For his part, the president of Antel highlighted the importance of the initiative, since "it allows adding layers of value and services on top of the infrastructure services of telecommunications companies". For that, partners are needed to "leverage that growth," he added.
Gurméndez explained that Antel will be the "facilitator" for companies to realize their ideas. For this, the company offers a development kit, which includes technological and business platforms that cover, among other things, big data, IoT and access to 5G, he explained at the end of the event.
For his part, the president of LATU said that the latest technology allows to explore "a universe of new things". He added that innovation is "a key issue", especially for a country "that bets on quality", and that LATU "will take a leap" to become an intelligent technology park.
Since May
The laboratory will start operating in May 2021. In the coming months, progress will be made in the technological platform of the laboratory, while private partners are being sought. This platform will evolve and will offer 5G connectivity, sensors and access to Antel's Data Center, among other elements.
For more information: www.opendigitallab.uy and info@opendigitallab.uy.
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