The Buenos Aires Institute of Technology (ITBA), through its Innovation Hub, has presented a new edition of the Regional Technology Innovation Index, a pioneering study that analyzes how technological applications impact people’s quality of life in the four most populous countries in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. According to the results, Argentina emerges as the regional leader in technology adoption, with an index of 53%, surpassing Colombia (50%), Mexico (49%), and Brazil (48%).
The report focuses on evaluating how technology influences everyday activities such as communication, education, commerce, and entertainment. Sebastián Mur, Vice-Rector of ITBA and Dean of the School of Innovation, stated:
“This year, we went a step further and added a comparison between the main countries in the region to highlight the available technological opportunities that can improve quality of life.”
Argentina at the forefront of technological innovation
84% of respondents in the region agree that technology has had a positive impact on their daily lives, but adoption levels vary by country and area of application. Argentina is at the forefront with 53% of technology adoption, reflecting widespread access to digital tools that have improved key aspects of its citizens’ daily lives.
Most of this adoption is driven by communication technologies, with 98% of the population using tools like WhatsApp, and 65% of users highlighting its positive impact on quality of life. Information access platforms, led by Google, also have significant penetration, while in the education sector, the use of YouTube for learning is key. However, in areas such as financial services, adoption varies significantly between countries. Argentina leads with the Mercado Pago app, while in México and Colombia, access to these types of services still faces limitations.
Opportunities and challenges in the region
While Argentina leads the overall index, the report also reveals areas of opportunity for both the country and the region as a whole. Applications for job search, security, and government procedures are sectors where technology has yet to make a significant impact. On average, less than 30% of the regional population perceives an improvement in these areas.
For Argentina, the biggest shortcomings are in the area of cybersecurity, while in Mexico the main opportunities lie in the development of financial services. In contrast, Colombia stands out in the use of educational technologies, surpassing its neighbors with 89% accessibility in this sector.
A promising technological future
The ITBA study not only exposes the current state of technology adoption in the region but also offers a roadmap for the development of new tools and applications that can transform underdeveloped sectors. In the words of Fernando Fabre, director of the ITBA Innovation Hub,
“there are opportunities for substantial improvement in various sectors,” and it is crucial that policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors take these data into account to maximize the positive impact of technology on people’s lives.
With Argentina at the forefront, Latin America is at a technological crossroads where the challenge is not only to increase access to digital tools but also to ensure that they truly improve quality of life in all aspects. Meanwhile, the ITBA report is consolidated as an invaluable resource for those seeking to drive innovation in the region.