R&D Ambassadors
14/05/2025
Introduction
The R&D Ambassadors Program aims to formalize collaboration between key technology leaders in the community and LACNIC to achieve strategic objectives in the development of Internet infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Through an open application process, the program identifies professionals interested in conducting R&D aligned with LACNIC’s infrastructure development activities.
In return, LACNIC offers a series of benefits, including the opportunity to present their results at the LACNIC event, personal brand development, and a budget to support the work of the Ambassador.
Objectives
This program has a dual objective:
- Enhancing collaboration with technology leaders in the regional community, identifying new leadership, and integrating them into the LACNIC community; and
- Strengthening the regional community’s technological capabilities for an open and stable internet.
Additionally, the program aims to promote the emergence of new leaders across different countries and to further develop LACNIC’s ties with local communities.
Through this program, LACNIC seeks to reinforce the following technological capabilities:
- Deployment of LACNIC anycast DNS servers or DNS root zone servers (+RAICES).
- Deployment of measurement platforms within a group of local ASNs or organization of deployathons for a specific community.
- Deployment of BGP collectors at IXPs or other networks of interest.
- Deployment of critical technologies identified by LACNIC: IPv6, RPKI validation, ROA creation by operators, DNS/DNSSEC adoption, etc.
- Strengthening local technical capacities: organization of workshops, tutorials, meetings, and other local activities to disseminate LACNIC’s strategic messaging.
- Promoting regional research activities: dissemination of our research activities and incentives to complement and/or enhance these efforts.
Participants in the R&D Ambassadors Program will receive the following benefits:
(Free access, no subscription required)
- A reserved slot at next year’s annual LACNIC event to present the progress of their projects implemented as R&D Ambassadors.
- Coordination and payment of travel, accommodation, and per diem to attend the annual LACNIC event (includes event registration).
- Personal brand development for Ambassadors.
- Visibility of their work as Ambassadors through LACNIC’s institutional channels (including social media, interviews, and the LACNIC Blog).
- Up to US$ 2,000 in funding for contracting software development services, installations, or work by third parties. This budget will be approved based on the submission of the work plan.
- Support from LACNIC’s R&D Department for planning and implementing the Ambassadors’ activities.
- Support in preparing presentations and disseminating their work.
- Free access to two advanced courses on the LACNIC Campus.
- Training on LACNIC’s goals, functions, and available support opportunities.
More information here