Costa Rica and Chile Establish AI Cooperation Under Memorandum of Understanding

By Ideas

Costa Rica and Chile have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on artificial intelligence development, particularly in relation to the regional Latam-GPT initiative. The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT) of Costa Rica and the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation of Chile, establishing a framework for cooperation in AI research, development and technology sharing. 

Under the terms of the MoU, Costa Rica is formally incorporated into the Latam-GPT project, a regional effort to develop a language model that reflects the linguistic, cultural and social diversity of Latin America and the Caribbean. The agreement sets out cooperation in the construction of shared data collections, the design of evaluation methodologies, and the development of technical standards to support the model’s implementation. 

The agreement specifies that each country will designate a national technical counterpart within 30 days of the MoU’s entry into force. In Costa Rica, this role has been assigned to the Dirección de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación within MICITT, which is responsible for coordinating research and innovation initiatives and engaging with academic, private sector and international partners in technology development. 

The MoU emphasizes ethical principles, technological sovereignty, and the preservation of cultural diversity in the development and use of artificial intelligence tools. It does not include additional financial commitments from either government and is initially valid for one year, with automatic renewals for up to four additional years, subject to internal legal processes in each country. 

MICITT’s involvement in the agreement aligns with broader national policies aimed at advancing innovation and capacity in emerging technologies, including AI, as reflected in the ministry’s mandate to promote research, digital transformation and the integration of new technologies into the Costa Rican economy. 

Official statements from Costa Rican and Chilean authorities underscore the intention to strengthen scientific and technological ties, promote joint research efforts, and integrate Costa Rica into regional innovation ecosystems. The cooperation framework is intended to facilitate knowledge exchange and the coordinated development of AI infrastructures that support regional objectives in technology and data governance.