The prioritized initiatives will impact sectors such as healthcare, security, and the circular economy.
The FutuMed project by Ruta N, the first Special Treatment Zone (ZTE) in the District and the country—created to promote the research, experimentation, and implementation of advanced technologies—received technical cooperation from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), La Salle Technova Barcelona, and the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) to define its strategic guidelines, governance model, and portfolio.
“They delivered work that provides key inputs for the development of Special Treatment Zones. We reaffirm the need for an orchestrated effort—one that is long-term and requires a clear governance system and a well-defined service portfolio”, said Carolina Londoño, Executive Director of Ruta N.
This support will help align FutuMed with the progress achieved so far and strengthen the decisions needed for the effective implementation of this open-air laboratory, where research and experimentation in science, technology, and innovation are applied to territorial solutions.
“We saw that the territory has great potential and many assets for co-creation. There are also some challenges in working together, such as coordinating these stakeholders—how they are activated, how their impact is strengthened and scaled. All the ingredients are in place, and there is strong commitment for this to become the first Special Treatment Zone, with the potential to be replicated and materialized across the entire city”, said Carina Rapetti, Director of the Innovation Ecosystems team and the Artificial Intelligence Hub at La Salle Technova Barcelona.
At the same time, the nine projects selected through the Research and Development (in partnership with universities) and Payment for Results calls have begun their 2026 agenda with official meetings to define the roadmap for scientific experiments and technological developments aimed at transforming the health, security, and circular economy sectors.
These initiatives range from the early detection of pathologies in children with cerebral palsy and the optimization of videolaryngoscopes to enable safer and more affordable intubations, to the repair of nerve connections using bioabsorbable devices and the creation of an artificial intelligence platform capable of identifying patterns in healthy brains at different stages of life.
They also include the use of organic matter to generate products and energy—such as the conversion of wastewater and biomass through microwave technology (pyrolysis); the planning of green areas and the creation of new services for the District; as well as the development of biofertilizers made from living microorganisms.
“We carry out intelligent wastewater monitoring, and with FutuMed we expect to meet this major challenge: designing a sensing device for wastewater monitoring. Being part of this project is important because it allows us to establish collaborations with different universities and joint initiatives,” said Hernán Alejandro Gómez, researcher at the University of Medellín.
Currently, FutuMed brings together more than 20 partners and ecosystem stakeholders located in northern Medellín. The intervention area covers 1.8 square kilometers and includes institutions such as Ruta N, Parque Explora, Jardín Botánico, and Parque Norte, among others.
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