Universidad del Cauca, Fundación Universitaria de Popayán (FUP), Corporación Universitaria Unicomfacauca, and Institución Universitaria Colegio Mayor del Cauca, along with their research groups and student focus groups, hosted this event where the challenges of developing innovative solutions in software engineering and quantum computing were presented.

From July 14 to 18, the Research Conference on Software Engineering and Quantum Computing took place. The event was organized by Universidad del Cauca, Fundación Universitaria de Popayán (FUP), Corporación Universitaria Unicomfacauca, and Institución Universitaria Colegio Mayor del Cauca.

With the support of research groups Logiciel (FUP), IDIS (Universidad del Cauca), MIND (Unicomfacauca), and I+D en informática (Colegio Mayor), along with the group SEINSOFT (FUP) and IRIS (Universidad del Cauca), and the Doctorate in Electronics Sciences (Universidad del Cauca), the event facilitated knowledge exchange, promotion of interdisciplinary research, and the strengthening of the academic community through presentations, talks, and discussion panels on emerging trends, practical applications, and technological challenges impacting the development of innovative solutions in software engineering and quantum computing.

This research space allowed for the presentation of two research networks, in which the IDIS group of Universidad del Cauca is involved: the Ibero-American Network for the Advancement of Quantum Software Engineering (RIPAISC) and AICODA: Collaborative Group Decision for Knowledge Acquisition in Agriculture Using AI Techniques.

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“The RIPAISC network seeks to establish the foundations for a collaborative research initiative in the field of quantum software engineering through specific and advanced training in the subject, by developing courses and workshops, and new techniques and tools to support the implementation of this novel technology, whose resulting knowledge will be presented at international-level events. The main goal of the network is to promote specialized training in this field and accelerate the development of new techniques, tools, and algorithms that facilitate the adoption of quantum computing in Ibero-America,” stated Professor César Alberto Collazos, from the Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications and Coordinator of the Software Engineering Research and Development Group (IDIS).

Professor Collazos added that RIPAISC is grounded in good software engineering practices, aligned with sustainable development goals and the principles of open science, and is comprised of members from countries such as Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Portugal, and Uruguay.

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Meanwhile, the AICODA project aims to define an artificial intelligence technique to support a group involved in a decision-making process through collaborative tools in the agricultural context. “We are using natural language processing (NLP) techniques, preference mining tools, and collaborative work environments. A collaborative platform has begun to be developed to support farmers (the decision-makers), including awareness mechanisms based on artificial intelligence,” added the professor, regarding the project in which researchers from France, Colombia, and Argentina are involved.

In this 2025 edition, the Research Conference on Software Engineering and Quantum Computing featured the participation of researchers from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá, CESMAG Pasto, Universidad de Nariño, Universidad de Extremadura (Spain), and served as a discussion space to showcase the research advances being carried out at regional universities, define shared areas of interest, and lay the groundwork for new research proposals.

 

Written by: Communications Management Center