AGP Executive Report

Space Technology: Colombia plans to launch FACSAT-3A in 2028, the first of three satellites intended to support Earth observation, security, environmental monitoring and disaster response. AI and Access: A government-Google programme aims to train more than 7 million students and teachers in AI and digital skills, even as about 10 million Colombian households lack a computer. Health Research: A study of 2,928 Spanish speakers, including Colombians, found that speech patterns associated with older-sounding voices were linked to dementia markers; researchers stress the tool is not a diagnostic test. Amazon Science: A review of wildlife trafficking found Colombian routes help move animals from Brazil’s Amazon to overseas markets, underscoring gaps in cross-border monitoring. Forests: Latin American forest loss fell 33% in 2025, but researchers warn the gains are fragile and could be reversed by political shifts.

Health Research: A speech-analysis tool tested on 2,928 Spanish-speaking adults, including Colombians, found that speech sounding older than a person’s age was linked to dementia markers. The researchers say it cannot diagnose dementia, and the study does not show cause and effect. Local Innovation: An app supporting five Indigenous languages won a hackathon at Colombia 5.0 in Leticia, where about 950 people took part. AI Adoption: A survey found that two-thirds of Colombian software firms use AI, pointing to its growing role in the country’s tech sector. Biodiversity Science: Researchers confirmed Victoria colombiana, a giant waterlily found in the Inírida region, as a new species; only a few dozen plants are thought to remain in the wild. Agricultural Technology: Colombia is seeking Israeli irrigation technology to help farming in La Guajira.

AI Adoption: Two-thirds of Colombia’s software firms now use AI in daily operations, and nearly one-third have adopted AI agents, a Fedesoft survey found. Many cite productivity gains and growth without adding staff. Amazonas Innovation: An app in five Indigenous languages won a hackathon at Colombia 5.0 in Leticia, where about 950 people joined the technology event. Brain Health Research: A study of nearly 2,930 Spanish-speaking adults, including Colombians, linked speech patterns that suggest older age with markers of cognitive decline. The tool is not a diagnostic test. Medical Robotics: Hospital Internacional de Colombia in Bucaramanga contributed a bridging study for a surgical robot seeking U.S. FDA clearance. Biodiversity: Scientists identified a new giant waterlily species after spotting it in a social media photo from Colombia; fewer than 50 wild plants are reported. Paleontology: Fossils from La Guajira revealed Titanoboa, a snake estimated at up to 15 metres long that lived around 60 million years ago.

Health Research: A speech-based age tool tested on 2,928 Spanish-speaking adults, including Colombians, found that older-sounding speech was associated with dementia markers. The study does not show cause and effect, and the tool is not a diagnostic test. Indigenous Tech: About 950 people gathered in Leticia for Colombia 5.0, where a hackathon-winning app in five Indigenous languages aims to boost visibility for local products and connect ventures with government partners. Tech Sector: Colombia’s software and IT services exports topped $2 billion, as local technology leaders face the challenge of sustaining growth. Biodiversity: Scientists identified a new giant water lily species in Colombia after spotting it in an Instagram photo; fewer than 50 wild plants are known. Climate & Farming: Colombia has declared El Niño underway, raising concerns about its effects, while the country is also seeking Israeli irrigation technology to support farming in La Guajira.

Health Tech: A speech-based “aging clock” tested on 2,928 Spanish-speaking adults, including Colombians, linked older-sounding speech with dementia and brain-aging markers. The researchers stress it cannot diagnose dementia or show cause and effect. Colombia’s Tech Sector: Software and IT services exports topped US$2 billion, as Bogotá and Medellín technology leaders face growing demands to build AI-ready engineering teams. Agricultural Innovation: Colombia is seeking Israeli irrigation technology to help boost farming in La Guajira, where water scarcity is a major challenge. Biodiversity Science: Researchers identified Victoria colombiana, a giant waterlily in the upper Orinoco watershed, after spotting it in an Instagram photo; just 30 to 50 plants are estimated to remain in the wild. Cybersecurity: A banking trojan campaign targeting Colombia and other Latin American countries activates its banking-related communications when victims visit selected financial websites, making it harder to detect.

Drone Technology: Colombia’s ELN and FARC factions are adapting commercial drones to drop explosives, creating new challenges for security forces and counter-drone defenses. Biodiversity: Scientists identified Victoria colombiana, a giant water lily in the upper Orinoco, after spotting it in an Instagram photo; only an estimated 30 to 50 plants remain in the wild. Agritech: Colombia is seeking Israeli irrigation technology to support farming in La Guajira. Health Research: A speech-based age tool tested on 2,928 Spanish-speaking adults, including Colombians, found links between older-sounding speech and dementia markers. The study does not show cause or offer a diagnosis. Digital Payments: Colombia’s Bre-B marked its first year with adoption reportedly outpacing Brazil’s Pix, according to an EBANX analysis.

New Species: Scientists have formally identified Victoria colombiana, a giant waterlily from the upper Orinoco watershed, after a botanist spotted it in an Instagram photo. Just 30 to 50 plants are thought to remain in the wild, and the species may qualify as critically endangered. Climate & Agriculture: Colombia has declared El Niño underway and warned of strong impacts. In drought-prone La Guajira, officials are seeking Israeli irrigation and water-management technology to support local farming. Digital Finance: Colombia’s Bre-B instant-payment system marked its first year, with adoption reportedly outpacing Brazil’s Pix at the same stage. Engineering: A Colombian designer won a 2026 James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket, putting local engineering innovation in the spotlight.

Biodiversity: Scientists have formally identified Victoria colombiana, a giant waterlily from Colombia’s upper Orinoco region, after a botanist spotted it in an Instagram photo. Just 30 to 50 wild plants are known, and the species may be critically endangered. Climate and Farming: Colombia is seeking Israeli irrigation and water-management technology for drought-prone La Guajira, where scarce water limits farming. The country has also declared El Niño underway and warned of severe impacts. Homegrown Innovation: A Colombian designer won a 2026 James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket. Digital Payments: Colombia’s Bre-B instant-payment system reached its first anniversary, with an analysis reporting faster adoption than Brazil’s Pix.

Regional Seismic Alert: A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Panama prompted tsunami alerts for Colombia and other countries in the region. The alerts were later lifted; Panama reported no initial deaths and said the Panama Canal remained operational. Water and Climate: Colombia is seeking Israeli irrigation and water-management technology for drought-prone La Guajira. The push comes as El Niño is officially underway and authorities warn of strong impacts. Biodiversity: Researchers confirmed a new giant water lily, Victoria colombiana, in Guainía. They estimate just 30 to 50 wild plants may remain, making conservation urgent. Colombian Innovation: A Colombian designer won a 2026 James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket. Digital Finance: Colombia’s Bre-B instant payment system marked its first year, with an analysis reporting faster adoption than Brazil’s Pix.

Agricultural Technology: Colombia is seeking Israeli irrigation and water-management expertise for drought-prone La Guajira, with plans to improve farming and livestock production. Biodiversity: Researchers confirmed a new giant water lily species in Guainía, Victoria colombiana; just 30 to 50 wild plants may remain. Climate Watch: Colombia has officially declared El Niño, warning of strong impacts as the Pacific warms. Connectivity: Starlink’s planned Community Wi-Fi passes may launch in Colombia, offering flexible access through local hosts. Digital Rights: Colombia is among the countries considering stronger protections for neural data as the UN warns about technology that can read brain activity.

Biodiversity: Scientists have identified Victoria colombiana, a giant waterlily found in Colombia’s Inírida region after a researcher spotted it in an Instagram photo. Only an estimated 30 to 50 plants remain in the wild. Climate Watch: IDEAM has declared El Niño underway, citing Pacific temperatures 3.49°C above average. The agency warns of lower rainfall, water shortages and wildfire risk, with satellite monitoring part of the response. Connectivity: Starlink is preparing a Community Wi-Fi program for nine markets, including Colombia, where local hosts could sell flexible internet passes. Colombian Innovation: A Colombian designer won a 2026 James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket, while a 14-year-old inventor developed a device that lets deaf children feel birdsong through vibrations.

Colombian Biodiversity: Scientists formally identified Victoria colombiana, a giant waterlily spotted in an Instagram photo from Guainía. With just 30 to 50 plants believed to remain in the wild, conservationists are racing to protect it. Digital Finance: Colombia’s Bre-B instant-payment system marked its first year, with adoption outpacing Brazil’s Pix, according to an EBANX analysis. Regional fintech growth is also being driven by digital payments and financial inclusion. Homegrown Innovation: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor created a device that lets deaf children feel birdsong through vibrations, while a Colombian designer won a James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket. Urban Climate: Medellín’s celebrated tree-planting and green-corridor projects have not prevented heat from rising faster, highlighting the challenge of keeping cities cool as temperatures climb.

Climate Research: A new study finds sharply different futures for two tropical fruit bats: the species found in Colombia may retain most suitable habitat through mid-century, while its Amazonian relative could lose up to half, threatening forest regeneration. AI Skills: Shakira’s Pies Descalzos Foundation and partners launched AWS Entrena Latinas, aiming to train one million women in technology and AI by 2028. Disaster Response: AI-assisted satellite maps helped guide relief decisions within an hour of Colombia’s August earthquake, according to Microsoft. Fintech: Colombia’s Bre-B payment system marked its first year, with adoption reportedly outpacing Brazil’s Pix at the same stage. Local Innovation: A Colombian designer won a 2026 James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket, while a 14-year-old inventor created a device that lets deaf children feel birdsong through vibrations.

AI Skills: Shakira’s Pies Descalzos Foundation is backing AWS Entrena Latinas with Amazon and Laboratoria, expanding women’s access to AI and technology training across Latin America. Climate Science: Colombia’s Ideam says El Niño is likely to persist into early 2027, with a strong chance of very intense conditions this quarter—raising risks to water supplies, crops, energy costs and workers. Aerospace: Brazil’s new Gripen production line could build 15 of the fighter jets ordered by Colombia, extending the countries’ role in advanced aircraft manufacturing. Digital Finance: Colombia’s Bre-B payment system has reached faster adoption than Brazil’s Pix did at the same stage, according to an EBANX analysis. Local Inventions: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor has created a device that lets deaf children experience birdsong through vibrations; a Colombian designer also won a James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket.

Climate Watch: Colombia’s El Niño is forecast to persist into early 2027, with an 81% chance of very strong conditions this quarter. Lower river and reservoir inflows, heat stress and fires could put pressure on farms, workers and household budgets. Energy Debate: The new government’s backing for fracking revives plans for pilot projects in Puerto Wilches, where residents and environmental groups warn of risks to wetlands and waterways. Assistive Design: Pereira designer Laura Echeverri Giraldo won Colombia’s 2026 James Dyson Award for Encaja, a system that uses smartphone scans and digital fabrication to produce custom prosthetic sockets. Farm Technology: Wingsure has launched an AI-powered coffee-farm intelligence platform, bringing data tools to Colombian growers. Accessible Innovation: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor has created a device that lets deaf children experience birdsong through vibrations. Digital Finance: Colombia’s Bre-B payment system has reached its first anniversary, with adoption reportedly outpacing Brazil’s Pix at the same stage.

Smartphone Hardware in Colombia: Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is set for pre-orders in Colombia on Oct. 16 and sales on Oct. 23, with the 256GB model pegged around 9.7 million COP—about 5.5 months of the minimum wage. Payments & Fintech: Colombia’s instant payment method Bre-B hit 83% adult adoption in its first year, reaching 36 million active users and 8M+ transactions per day, according to EBANX. Security & Drones: A new report says Colombia leads Latin America in explosive drone attacks, with 418 incidents in 2026 (Jan–late Sep), and Cauca accounting for nearly 58% of cases. Climate & Food Risk: El Niño is forecast to become “historic,” with NOAA estimating a 90%+ chance of very strong conditions and major knock-on effects for hunger and supply chains. Health Tech & Biotech Adjacent: Knight Therapeutics launched TAVALISSE (fostamatinib) in Brazil for chronic immune thrombocytopenia, with prior regulatory progress across Latin America including Colombia. Space/Science Infrastructure (Regional): A Sustainable Pacific pilot is using underwater hydrophones in Panama’s Pearl Islands to study how ship noise affects humpback whale song recording. Disaster Response: UNESCO approved US$60,000 to help recover Colombian cultural heritage damaged by the Aug. 10 earthquake.