Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence to Open Its Doors this Week in Medellín

A new “center of excellence” for artificial intelligence will formally open in Medellín next week with a goal of fostering more specialized skills in the local labor force to adapt to the changing nature of work as automation and robotic applications continue to do more of the tasks historically done by humans.

The establishment of this center, which opens its doors on May 22, comes from a partnership between the U.S.-based Institute for Robotic Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence (IRPA AI) and Medellín-based startup incubator Ruta N. The public Agency for Cooperation and Investment of Medellín (ACI Medellín) helped facilitate the launch with legal and operational advice.

Alejandro Franco, executive director of Ruta N, says the AI center of excellence as “will allow Medellín to position itself as an artificial intelligence hub.”

It will aim to promote innovation in areas including robotic process automation, machine learning, deep learning, and other cognitive-centric technologies in addition to artificial intelligence.

The center is a part of the larger Business Development Center in the city that is promoting research and development, encouraging startup entrepreneurship, and working with local universities on initiatives centered on innovation.

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“This is great news for Medellín and the country,” said Catalina Restrepo Carvajal, executive director of ACI Medellín. “This center will bring important advantages in the development of research, technology, and job creation; and it will allow us to boost the attraction of foreign investment in the city.”

(Photo credit: geralt / Pixabay)