SamarIA SmartLab

Our Story

SamarIA SmartLab was born from Proposal code 97280, funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Minciencias) in Colombia under Call No. 934 of 2023. We are a research, development, and innovation initiative led by Jose Fernando Noguera Polania as Founder and CEO, with over 14 years of experience in research, university teaching, leadership of R&D+i projects, and Academia–Industry–Government–Society articulation. He currently serves as a Minciencias Postdoctoral Researcher and Faculty Researcher at Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia (UCC), Santa Marta campus. He has led and participated as Principal Investigator, co-investigator, and Scientific Director in multiple projects funded by Minciencias, the General Royalties System, and universities, focused on smart agriculture, IoT, neural networks, deep learning, environmental monitoring, water resources, climate change, and advanced control systems, in partnership with key institutions such as Aprogaira Frutal and Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, among others.

Co-founder — Aldo Daconte Blanco.

Aldo Daconte Blanco is an Electronic Engineer and researcher with experience in artificial intelligence, IoT monitoring systems, and applied automation. He has participated in research projects related to neural networks for smart irrigation, aquifer monitoring, and the development of technological solutions for engineering and smart agriculture.

He has served as a Minciencias Young Researcher and collaborating researcher at Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, contributing to data analysis, electronic prototyping, instrumentation, and scientific writing activities. He also has experience in industrial maintenance management and coordination.

He is the author of scientific publications and has contributed to academic training and advisory processes in electronic engineering, strengthening the innovation and technological development capabilities of SamarIA SmartLab.

Co-founder and Vice President — Barbara Emilia Alvarez Ospina.

Barbara Emilia Alvarez Ospina holds a degree in Preschool Education, a specialization in Project Management, and two master's degrees in Education. She also has complementary training in software and mobile application development, programming, and project formulation for Science, Technology, and Innovation.

She brings a background in teaching, pedagogical management, and project formulation, with experience in early childhood, primary, teacher, and higher education. Her work combines the social appropriation of knowledge, educational innovation, and technological capacity building.

She is an ad honorem co-investigator in smart agriculture projects at Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, focused on soil monitoring, irrigation, and mango crop fertilization through the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and neural networks. At SamarIA SmartLab, she strengthens the connection between technology, education, and social impact. She coordinates her work with Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia (UNAD) and IED Jaqueline Kennedy, a district educational institution.

Our Strategic Partners

• Minciencias — Official funder under Call 934 of 2023
• Aprogaira Frutal — Partner in smart agricultural solutions
• Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia — Partner in training and knowledge transfer
• SamarIA Research Group — Registered with Minciencias with an emerging technological vision in AI, automation, and engineering