Latin American Master’s and Doctoral Thesis Competition – CLEI 2026

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Within the framework of the 52nd Latin American Conference on Informatics (CLEI 2026), authors of Master’s and Doctoral theses in Computer Science and Informatics are invited to submit their work to the following competitions, as appropriate:

• Latin American Master’s Thesis Competition (CLTM)
• Latin American Doctoral Thesis Competition (CLTD)

The three best theses will be awarded, based on the evaluation of the Program Committee and the Chairs
of the CLTM or CLTD competitions, as appropriate.

Important Dates

• ­Submission deadline: April 30, 2026
• Notification of acceptance: June 11, 2026
• On-site presentations: During CLEI 2026, September 7–11, in Mexico City

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must have defended and successfully completed their Master’s or Doctoral Thesis in Computer Science or Informatics between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026 (strict period).

The Master’s or Doctoral program must be offered by a Latin American or Caribbean University that is a CLEI member.

Submissions must be individual works (no group theses).

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated by an Evaluation Committee according to:

• The quality and relevance of the research
• The appropriateness of the chosen methodology
• The originality of the contributions
• Publications in international conferences and high-ranking journals demonstrating impact in the field
• Patents demonstrating innovation relevance

The committee will select three finalist theses for awards.

Required Submission Materials (PDF format)

Each application must include the following documents:

1. Extended Abstract
   • In Spanish, Portuguese, or English
   • Maximum length of 20 pages, including figures and references
   • Must follow the CLEI Journal submission format
   • The thesis work must be individual; co-authored abstracts will not be considered
2. Complete List of Publications / Patents / Awards
   • Full list of authors in the order in which they appear in the publication
   • For journal and conference publications, indicate the venue ranking using the most recent
     ICORE and SJR indices
3. Official Certification (Digital Copy)
   • Issued by the degree-granting institution
   • Confirming that the applicant fulfilled all requirements to obtain the degree within the stipu-
     lated period
4. Cover Letter from the Applicant
   Including:
   • Thesis title
   • Name(s) and email address(es) of the thesis advisor and co-advisor (if applicable)
   • Degree obtained
   • Granting university
   • Explicit statement indicating submission to the CLTM or CLTD 2026 Competition, as appropriate
5. Endorsement Letter from the University Representative
   • Confirming that the institution is a CLEI member
   • Confirming that membership fees are up to date
   • Confirming that the thesis was defended and approved between April 1, 2025, and March 31,
     2026

All documents must be submitted through the EasyChair platform. Additional details will be provided soon.

Publication Opportunity

A selection of submitted works, including the three award-winning theses, will be invited to submit an
improved version for publication in a special issue of CLEI Journal.

The improved version must:

• Be written in English
• Differ by at least 30% from previously published material
• Undergo a new peer-review process conducted by CLEI Journal reviewers

Awards

Winners will receive:

• An official CLEI diploma indicating their placement in the Competition
• Public recognition after delivering a 30-minute in-person presentation during the conference

Failure to deliver the oral presentation will result in forfeiture of the award and the publication invitation.

Financial Support for Finalists

Finalists of the CLTM and CLTD Competitions will receive financial support of up to USD 900 to cover travel expenses (airfare and accommodation).

• Reimbursement will cover actual expenses up to the stated maximum
• Payment will be made in cash during the conference or by bank transfer afterward
• Finalists must submit the corresponding expense receipts

Chairs of the Evaluation Committees

CLTM 2026:

• Carlos Luna (UDELAR, Uruguay)
• Carla Taramasco (UNAB, Chile)
• Saúl Zapotecas (INAOE, Mexico)

CLTD 2026:

• Niriaska del Carmen Perozo de Linares (UCN, Chile)
• Francisco Quiles (UCLM, Spain)
• Marcela Quiroz (UV, Mexico)