Between 25 and 30 May 2026, Dr. Pablo Zapico, a researcher from the EPMAN research group visited several Higher Education Institutions in Colombia as part of the RedProMad – Additive Manufacturing and Prototyping Network initiative. The visit followed the I RedProMad Meeting, held in March at the University of Oviedo’s Gijón Campus, and represented a further step towards consolidating the collaborative network established between the participating institutions.

Supported by the Expertos Internacionales 2025 programme of ICETEX, RedProMad aims to promote the adoption and development of prototyping and additive manufacturing technologies through knowledge transfer, the exchange of good practices and collaborative initiatives adapted to the needs and capabilities of each institution.

During the visit, Dr. Pablo Zapico, together with Dr. Cristina Alía García from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, visited the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, INFOTEP in La Guajira, and IUSAI in San Andrés. The meetings provided an opportunity to learn first-hand about the strengths, challenges and opportunities of each institution and to identify new areas for collaboration in education, research and regional development.

The visit represents an important milestone in the development of RedProMad, which aims to become an open network incorporating new educational institutions and companies. The initiative seeks to promote additive manufacturing as a tool for education, research, innovation and socio-economic development, while strengthening long-term international collaboration.