ANDICOM 2026 Unveils AI-Focused Agenda With European Union as Guest of Honor

European Union takes center stage at Cartagena’s AI-focused congress

ANDICOM 2026 will bring together technology companies, government representatives, academics and business leaders in Cartagena from September 1–4 to discuss how artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation into practical applications for productivity, competitiveness and economic development. The congress, organized by CINTEL (Centro de Innovación, Productividad y Desarrollo Tecnológico, or Center for Innovation, Productivity and Technological Development), will take place under the theme “Unleashing the Power of AI.”

The 41st edition of the event will open on September 1 with the ANDICOM Knowledge Hub 2026 – Business Impact Sessions, followed by the Main Academic Forum from September 2–4. The European Union will participate as guest of honor, while Colombia’s national government and executives from global technology companies including Fortinet, Zoho Corporation, Microsoft, Blend360, Google Cloud and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are expected to contribute to the agenda.

“The conversation about artificial intelligence has evolved. Today organizations no longer ask what this technology can do, but how to apply it to increase productivity, strengthen competitiveness, improve decision-making and generate sustainable advantages,” – Mario Castaño, technical director of CINTEL.

The European Union’s participation will focus on artificial intelligence as infrastructure for economic development and digital transformation. According to ANDICOM, the bloc represents 22% of foreign direct investment in Colombia’s technology sector, has generated more than 120,000 jobs through European companies operating in the country and will bring together representatives from its 27 member states during the congress. “ANDICOM will be the stage where global leaders share experiences, real cases and strategies to turn that potential into concrete results.” promised Mario Castaño.

The event’s academic program will focus on four strategic areas: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital trust, connectivity and digital infrastructure, and public policy and regulation. Discussions will cover topics including AI adoption, automation, advanced analytics, data platforms, digital talent, sustainability, digital government and the future of work.

The opening day will also feature the CINTEL AI Forum, which will examine governance and responsible adoption of AI agents, as well as the CyberShield Forum, focused on cybersecurity challenges linked to the development of quantum technologies and Colombia’s transition toward post-quantum cryptography.

Confirmed speakers include Derek Manky, chief security strategist at Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT), who will discuss how artificial intelligence is changing the cybersecurity landscape through autonomous attacks, deepfakes and emerging digital threats.

Raju Vegesna, chief evangelist at Zoho Corporation, will address digital sovereignty and the changing relationship between companies, governments and technology platforms. Marc Reguera, worldwide customer engagement general manager at Microsoft Fabric, will discuss how organizations can use AI and data analytics to improve decision-making and create business value.

The agenda will also involve Andrés Barrantes, regional vice president for Latin America at Blend360, an Amazon Web Services Premier Partner, who will examine strategies for using artificial intelligence to monetize data, optimize costs and improve competitiveness.

Pilar Manchón, senior director of AI research strategy at Google Cloud, will share perspectives on AI research and innovation, while Eric Martorell Bouvier, director of artificial intelligence solutions for Latin America and southern Europe at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Servicelab AI, will discuss enterprise adoption of AI solutions.

Alongside the Main Academic Forum, the Experience Hub will provide demonstrations of technology solutions and innovations developed by participating companies, creating a connection between business needs, technological capabilities and investment opportunities.

The complete agenda is available through the ANDICOM agenda page.

Organized annually by CINTEL, ANDICOM has become one of Latin America’s largest technology and business gatherings, bringing together executives, public officials, investors, academics and technology providers to examine the role of digital transformation in the region’s economy.

Headline phot: Andicom on Day 2 in Nueva Granada salon. (Photo shared by Clicksalinas Photographer)