AGP Executive Report

Consumer Tech in Colombia: Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is set for pre-orders in Colombia starting Oct. 16, with sales beginning Oct. 23; the 256GB model is reported around 9.7 million COP, about 5.5 months of Colombia’s 2026 minimum wage. Digital Payments: Colombia’s instant payment method Bre-B hit 83% adult penetration in its first year (vs. 65% for Brazil’s Pix), reaching 36 million active users and 8M+ transactions per day, according to EBANX analysis. Security & Drones: A new international report says Colombia leads Latin America in explosive-drone attacks, with 418 incidents recorded in 2026 so far—up 125% from all of 2025—concentrated heavily in Cauca. Health & Biotech/Med Tech: Knight Therapeutics launched TAVALISSE® (fostamatinib) in Brazil for chronic immune thrombocytopenia, extending its Latin America rollout that already includes Colombia approval in Sept. 2026. Robotics Education: The UN Verification Mission recognized Bogotá robotics teacher Tatiana Munoz, who runs Science Bot in Guaviare and has trained 6,000+ children with 3D printers and offline-capable learning.

Carbon Markets Policy: Colombia’s main Article 6 technical partner (GGGI) urges the incoming administration to publish an emissions-reduction legal framework, set a $20/t minimum price for ITMOs, define the national authority, and publish an eligible-sectors list—aimed at making Paris carbon trading rules work in practice. Energy & Industry Oversight: Ecopetrol asked Colombia’s Fiscalía to investigate how it awarded the Pacific LNG regasification contract, citing potential irregularities around influence, conflicts of interest, contract changes, and delay penalties. AI Governance: A new piece argues that after UNESCO’s global AI ethics principles, the real challenge is building long-lasting institutions for sustainable AI governance. Coffee Tech for Farmers: SRI spinout Wingsure launched Wingsure COFFEA, a phone-based farm record system meant to let buyers, insurers, and lenders reuse verified data across programs. B2B AI Sales Tools: CoBALT’s REALIZER signed an MOU with IBEForuM to help companies turn event meetings into structured sales follow-ups using AI. Aerospace Industrialization: Embraer and Mahindra are planning India’s C-390 industrial ecosystem, with Nagpur flagged as a potential final assembly site if the Indian Air Force program moves forward.

AI for Industry: Geocarbonite says its IntelliPro AI helps maintenance technicians diagnose equipment faster and retain know-how as experienced staff retire. Personal Data AI: EQUS launched EQUS X, a personal AI that reads only user-approved files via private storage, with access revocable anytime. Crypto Intelligence: Binance unveiled Binance Intelligence, an AI product stack aimed at helping everyday users understand markets and building finance-focused strategies. Coffee Traceability Tech: Wingsure COFFEA lets coffee growers document farm activity from phones so buyers, insurers, and lenders can reuse verified records across programs. Archaeology Lab in Colombia: UNAL opened an Amazonia Archaeology Laboratory in Leticia to study human presence in the Colombia-Peru-Brazil border region dating back 13,000 years. Carbon Credits Policy: Colombia’s new government plans to lift a 50% cap on carbon credit retirements against CO2 tax liabilities, boosting the voluntary carbon market. Cybersecurity: Group-IB detailed its role in Operation KillSwitch, disrupting the KillSec ransomware-as-a-service operation.

AI for Inclusion in Colombia: A 14-year-old inventor in Colombia built a wearable vibrotactile device that turns birdsong into arm vibrations, helping deaf children identify species and join conservation activities. Energy Tech Expansion: UAE firm AIQ says it will roll its AI/ML tech into India’s oil and gas sector, deploying across refineries, gas stations, and digital stores as it expands beyond ADnoc. Connectivity Deal Watch: MTN cleared major regulatory hurdles to acquire IHS, with competition approvals in South Africa and conditional go-aheads in Nigeria. Wildlife Trade Risk: More Amazonian species are showing up in Southeast Asia’s pet markets, with trafficking routes often laundering wild-caught animals via Peru hubs. Climate Pressure on LatAm: A University of Chicago-linked projection warns Super El Niño could add thousands of heat deaths across Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, with housing and cooling access shaping risk. Policy & Rights Debate: Across parts of Latin America, lawmakers are proposing tougher rules targeting alleged false reports in domestic/sexual violence cases, sparking renewed controversy over women’s protections. Colombia Angle: EU asylum rules list Colombia as a “safe country of origin,” affecting how claims may be processed across member states.

Climate & Health: A University of Chicago-backed analysis warns “Super El Niño” could add about 451,000 heat deaths worldwide in 2026–27, with projected increases for Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela—highlighting that survival depends on housing, work conditions, and cooling costs. Migration Policy: The EU added seven “safe countries of origin” for 2026, including Colombia, which can trigger faster asylum processing across member states. Public Health & Tech: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor built a wearable vibrotactile device that turns birdsong into vibrations so deaf children can “hear” and identify species—an accessibility win for conservation tech. Environment & Science: Wake Forest and CINCIA researchers briefed Pope Leo XIV on Amazon mercury pollution tied to gold mining, stressing how contamination moves through ecosystems to reach Indigenous communities. Food & Nutrition Policy: California signed a bill creating a voluntary label for foods marked “not ultra-processed,” aiming to help shoppers—especially families facing higher health risks—understand what they eat.

Narco Tech Threat: A Colombian Navy report warns cartels are accelerating autonomous underwater “narco subs” that could reach European waters within a couple of years, using commercially available autopilots and satellite links. Climate Policy Push: Germany commits to phasing out fossil fuels by 2045, while California highlights its clean-electricity progress during Climate Week NYC. Colombia Innovation for Inclusion: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor built a wearable vibrotactile device that translates birdsong into vibrations so deaf children can “feel” and identify bird calls. Higher Ed Spotlight: Four Colombian universities place in QS Latin America’s top 20, led by Universidad de los Andes (8th). Health & Environment: Wake Forest and CINCIA researchers brief Pope Leo XIV on Amazon mercury pollution tied to gold mining. Regional Tech-Policy: Trinidad and Tobago joins PAHO’s executive committee, adding Caribbean representation to regional health priorities.

MacArthur “Genius Grant” in Colombia ties to memory science: Duke philosopher Felipe De Brigard (from Bogotá) received an $800,000 fellowship after a surprise call, using cognitive science to study how human memory fills in gaps. Amazon mercury pollution gets Vatican spotlight: Wake Forest and CINCIA researchers briefed Pope Leo XIV with findings that gold-mining mercury spreads through ecosystems and reaches vulnerable Indigenous communities. Colombia’s higher-ed momentum: QS ranks four Colombian universities in the Latin America & Caribbean top 20, led by Universidad de los Andes (8th). Energy-tech push: GeoPark says it’s ready to join Colombia’s race toward the country’s first fracking well, alongside Ecopetrol and Drummond. Rare-earths exploration update: Jaguar Uranium reports magnet rare earth elements in resampled drill core at its Berlin project in Caldas. Agro/industry investment: EU-backed financing supports Alimentos Secos’ Milsec whey-processing expansion, aiming at food and pharmaceutical ingredients. Economy targets: Colombia’s 2026–2030 plan draft sets a 6% growth goal to reach the world’s top 25 economies. Infrastructure finance: A $1.2T COP loan clears the way for Bogotá’s Accesos Norte Fase II road works.

Colombia Tech & Science: Colombia’s August earthquake could keep triggering aftershocks for years, with scientists warning families to plan for uncertainty rather than assuming shaking will steadily shrink. Public Health & Research: Wake Forest and CINCIA researchers briefed Pope Leo XIV on Amazon mercury pollution tied to gold mining, highlighting impacts on wildlife and Indigenous communities. Agriculture & Food Security: CIMMYT and partners trained 22 specialists from 11 countries on surveillance and management of maize and wheat diseases, aiming to stop evolving pathogens from spreading. Higher Education: Four Colombian universities placed in QS’s Latin America & Caribbean top 20, led by Universidad de los Andes (8th). Energy & Industry: GeoPark says it’s ready to join Colombia’s push toward fracking, alongside Ecopetrol and Drummond, as unconventional drilling plans move forward. Infrastructure: A $1.2T COP loan was closed to widen Bogotá’s Autopista Norte and Carrera Séptima under the Accesos Norte Fase II project. Tech & Innovation: Jaguar Uranium reported rare-earth results from resampled drill core at its Berlin project in Caldas, signaling potential magnet-material prospects.

University Rankings: Four Colombian universities placed in the QS Latin America & Caribbean 2026 top 20—Universidad de los Andes (8th), National University (12th), Javeriana (18th) and Antioquia (20th). Infrastructure Finance: A $1.2T COP loan has been closed to fund Bogotá’s Accesos Norte Fase II works, including the Autopista Norte and Carrera Séptima corridors. Energy & Industry Tech: GeoPark says it’s ready to join fracking efforts in Colombia, alongside Ecopetrol and Drummond, as the country reopens the door to unconventional drilling. Rare Earths: Jaguar Uranium reports rare earths (including magnet metals like neodymium and dysprosium) in resampled drill core from its Berlin project in Caldas. Agri-Food Innovation: European-backed financing supports a whey-processing expansion in Colombia to produce food and pharmaceutical ingredients. AI & Sovereignty: A new analysis explores how AI systems can collide with state sovereignty obligations. Disaster Risk: Colombia’s August earthquake aftershocks could continue for years, with scientists warning that “uncertainty” is part of recovery planning. Cybersecurity: Europol-led Operation KillSwitch dismantled ransomware group KillSec, seizing infrastructure and data.

Climate & Health: Colombia’s Santa Isabel glacier is nearing extinction, with IDEAM reporting a 36% loss of glacier area in just over a year, exposing the summit rock as high-altitude ice retreats. Extreme Heat Forecasts: A University of Chicago study warns Super Niño could drive about 451,000 additional deaths from extreme heat between 2026 and 2027, with the biggest risks for vulnerable communities. Environment & Pollution: Wake Forest and CINCIA researchers briefed Pope Leo XIV with decades of findings showing mercury from gold mining spreads through Amazon ecosystems and reaches people, including Indigenous communities. Tech for Access to Care: PAHO and the Barça Foundation used drones to deliver medicines and rapid diagnostic kits to Panama’s Ngöbe Buglé region, cutting delivery times from hours to minutes. Colombia Infrastructure & Security: Colombia plans to start operating the Renacer megaprison in December, designed for nearly 2,000 inmates with strong controls to limit outside communication. AI in Daily Life: A new “speech clock” study suggests an AI tool can estimate chronological age from speech patterns and flag higher risk of cognitive problems and dementia. Culture & Youth Tech Spotlight: Bogota named BTS “honorary guests” ahead of sold-out concerts at El Campin, highlighting the city’s push to attract global attention.

Prison Capacity Upgrade: Colombia plans to start operating the Renacer megaprison in December, with room for 1,974 inmates and security designed to block cellphone and internet contact. AI in Health: A new “speech clock” tool estimates chronological age from speech patterns; in a study of nearly 3,000 Spanish-speaking adults, higher estimated age than actual age tracked with cognitive problems and dementia risk. Drug Policy Tech Debate: Colombia unveiled a pilot for aerial glyphosate spraying to eradicate illicit coca in Putumayo, capped at 1,000 hectares, after a long suspension tied to court orders—sparking local concerns. AI and Work Scrutiny: A report highlights how AI training relies on data workers, including outsourcing to lower-cost regions, raising alarms about exploitation and exposure to harmful content. Fintech Access: inDrive.Money says driver loans in Latin America more than doubled in H1 2026, with demand surging in Peru and Colombia. Climate & Cooling: “Cool roofs” are gaining attention as a low-cost way to cut urban heat and reduce energy demand, especially where air conditioning is limited. Bogotá Culture Tech: Bogotá declared BTS honorary guests ahead of sold-out El Campin concerts, with major logistics and tourism planning underway.

Speech & Brain Health: A new study in Science Advances reports a “speech clock” that estimates chronological age from voice patterns and links the “speech age gap” to brain aging markers, dementia risk, and social adversity—based on nearly 3,000 Spanish-speaking adults across Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Colombia Agro-Exports Under Pressure: Colombia’s exporters are warning of a “perfect storm” from El Niño, peso strength, higher domestic costs, and foreign market barriers, pushing for emergency support to protect rural jobs and contracts. Fintech M&A Watch: Nubank denies active takeover talks with UK digital bank Monzo after share drops tied to speculation—highlighting how Latin American fintech is still eyeing Europe expansion. Climate Risk for LatAm: Research flags a super-strength El Niño that could disrupt supply chains, commodity output, and infrastructure across Latin America into 2027. Energy & Policy Signals: Colombia’s new investment agenda points to opportunities in hydrocarbons, mining, and infrastructure, but implementation and permitting remain key hurdles. Health Tech in the Region: Kyowa Kirin and Knight Therapeutics sign an exclusive distribution deal for mogamulizumab across Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia. Mobile Connectivity: Claro Colombia signs an MVNO deal with Movil Exito to expand Grupo Éxito’s mobile coverage nationwide via Claro’s 4G/5G.

Speech-Age Breakthrough: A multicenter study in Science Advances reports a “speech clock” that uses machine learning on vocal patterns to estimate chronological age and a “speech age gap” linked to brain aging, dementia markers, and social adversity, with data from nearly 3,000 Spanish-speaking adults across Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Payments in LATAM: PXP Partners with OKTO Payments to expand locally operated payment rails across Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Argentina and more, adding instant payments plus treasury and liquidity tools for merchants. Energy AI Expansion: UAE’s AIQ (ADNOC/Presight JV) signs to push AI into India’s oil and gas sector, deploying tech across refineries, gas stations and digital stores. Colombia Telecom MVNO: Claro Colombia (America Móvil) inks an MVNO deal with Movil Exito to launch a retailer-branded service using Claro’s 4G/5G, starting in 30 Exito stores then scaling nationwide. Health & Climate Planning: PAHO and Andean partners unveil the Andean Health and Climate Change Plan 2026–2031 to strengthen early warning and climate-resilient health services for 173M+ people. Invasive Species to Energy: Colombia’s Universidad de los Andes pilot tests turning invasive gorse into biomass pellets for thermal energy after removal from high-Andean ecosystems. Security Alert (Colombia): The US warns of elevated attack risk in Norte de Santander’s Catatumbo region, citing drones fitted with explosives targeting police and military infrastructure.

Telecom & Retail: Claro Colombia signed an MVNO deal with Movil Exito, letting Grupo Éxito sell a Claro-powered service starting in 30 stores and expanding to 447 nationwide. Biotech & Access: Kyowa Kirin’s Latin America unit struck an exclusive distribution agreement with Knight Therapeutics for mogamulizumab (Poteligeo) covering Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia for mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. Urban Resilience Funding: WRI Ross Center opened applications for the 2027–2028 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities, offering $250,000 to a grand winner plus four $25,000 finalists for proven, on-the-ground solutions. Marine Conservation: Mission Blue and ICRI Colombia highlighted the Capurganá and Cabo Tiburón Hope Spot, noting expanded sanctuary protection in northern Chocó and long-running citizen science on reef recovery and sea turtles. Clean Energy from Invasives: Universidad de los Andes is piloting a project to convert invasive gorse into biomass pellets for thermal energy after removal from high-Andean ecosystems. Payments & Commerce: Getnet and Nayax announced a partnership to integrate cashless payments for unattended retail and automated services across Latin America and Iberia, starting with Chile.

Payments & Commerce: Getnet and Nayax announced a global strategic partnership to speed up integrated cashless payments for unattended businesses, starting with Chile and rolling out to Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Agri-Tech for Traceability: Wingsure launched Wingsure COFFEA, a platform that captures and verifies farm-level coffee evidence to create reusable, decision-grade intelligence for sustainability, sourcing, and risk. Biotech/Healthcare Deal: Knight Therapeutics signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Kyowa Kirin to commercialize mogamulizumab (POTELIGEO) in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina. Education Spotlight: Colombia’s Saber 11 saw a rare 500/500 score from a student in Cúcuta, followed by a scholarship announcement from President Abelardo de la Espriella. Climate & Risk Response: Colombia is among countries receiving early Red Cross support tied to El Niño impacts, including cash help, water access, and adaptive farming training.

Climate Week Medellín: The global Climate Week platform opened in Medellín (Sept 28–Oct 10) with 13,200 attendees and 200+ events, pushing climate action, investment and innovation across governments, academia and communities. AI & Justice: UNESCO’s forum on AI ethics spotlighted how digital court tools can either widen or shrink access gaps, warning that adoption is outpacing training and safeguards. ICBF Language Backlash: Colombia’s child welfare agency ICBF faced criticism after internal guidance excluded “girls” in wording; leadership later shifted to “childhood,” a change still debated by legal and feminist groups. Fintech & Policy: Bogota’s tax reform is raising alarms across Colombia’s fintech sector, while Temu and Shein’s parcel-based growth is fueling calls for a more level tax and competition playing field. Mining in Colombia: Collective Mining advanced a two-route processing plan for its Apollo gold-silver deposit in Caldas, aiming for an environmental license filing in 2H 2027. Climate Finance Gap: New analysis says climate aid from rich countries often comes as loans that swell public debt, leaving the poorest countries struggling to access funds.