What MetaRed by Universia does

MetaRed by Universia is a private international collaborative network of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals serving Higher Education Institutions (IES) across Ibero-America. Founded in 2018 and headquartered within the Universia ecosystem coordinated by Fundación Universia with financial backing from Banco Santander, MetaRed connects 945 institutions across 10 national/regional networks and 55 international working groups focused on educational technologies, cybersecurity, supplier relations, and digital teaching competencies. Its core offerings are not a single software product but an ecosystem of programs: international training courses for university CIOs, CISOs, and Rectors (now in their fourth to eighth editions); a cybersecurity awareness kit co-developed with INCIBE; the Critical IT Products benchmarking dashboard built on Power BI; the DigCompEdu-based digital teaching competence self-evaluation tool developed with the European Commission's Joint Research Centre; the annual Premio Internacional MetaRed TIC award (seventh edition in 2026); the 'Qué piensan las que triunfan' podcast under the Red de Mujeres en TIC sub-network; and supplementary platforms (Campus Ágora, UDigital Aumentado, IMC) plus the C3!Cyber certification seal. The network operates through 29 staff, national coordinators, and an international coordination layer that runs working groups and produces publications and best-practice repositories.

The underlying technology is a federated collaborative network rather than a proprietary platform: content (courses, kits, frameworks) is delivered through event portals (eventos.metared.org), while analytics is delivered through Power BI dashboards and self-evaluation tools adapted from European frameworks. Notable technical components include the INCIBE-adapted cybersecurity awareness kit, the DigCompEdu-based faculty competency check-in, and the Critical IT Products Dashboard synthesizing data from 245 institutions.

The business model is non-commercial in the conventional sense: MetaRed does not publicly disclose pricing, does not sell a SaaS product, and is funded as an initiative under Fundación Universia and Banco Santander rather than via venture capital or public markets. Institutions participate through an adhesion (membership) process coordinated by national networks, with engagement driven by knowledge-sharing, peer benchmarking, training programs, and recognition through the international prize. Revenue mechanics — whether through membership fees, course tuition, sponsor contributions, or grant funding — are not disclosed in available materials.

Name

MetaRed by Universia

Legal name

MetaRed

Website

https://metared.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MetaRed by Universia is a private collaborative ICT network serving 945 Higher Education Institutions across Ibero-America, offering training courses, benchmarking dashboards, a cybersecurity kit, and the Premio Internacional MetaRed TIC award, operated under Fundación Universia and Banco Santander.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education ICT Network Services

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Networking & Telecommunications (Routing/Switching, Wireless, VoIP) (EDABAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Telecom, Unified Communications & VoIP (EDAOAIAN), Unified Communications & VoIP Telephony for Campuses (EDAEAHAE)

Keywords

• Higher education ICT network
• University collaboration platform
• Cybersecurity awareness training
• Digital competence assessment
• University leadership courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MetaRed by Universia operates an international collaborative ICT network serving Higher Education Institutions across Ibero-America, providing international training courses for university CIOs, CISOs, and rectors, a cybersecurity awareness kit, digital teaching competency assessment tools, an interactive dashboard on critical IT products, an annual international award recognizing digital transformation initiatives, podcasts, publications, and best-practice repositories. The network coordinates 55 international working groups across 10 national/regional networks with approximately 945 participating institutions, with institutional support from Fundación Universia and Banco Santander.

Product overview

MetaRed is a collaborative network platform for higher education institutions (IES) across Ibero-America, not a single unified software product but rather an ecosystem of programs and services. The core offerings include international training courses for university leadership (CIOs, CISOs, and Rectors), a cybersecurity awareness kit developed with INCIBE, an international award for digital transformation, a podcast series on women in ICT, a digital teaching competency assessment tool aligned with the European DigCompEdu framework, and an interactive dashboard on critical ICT products. Additional resources include Campus Ágora for educational content, the C3!Cyber certification seal, UDigital Aumentado for augmented digital learning, and IMC for interactive multimedia content. These services are interconnected through MetaRed's collaborative network of 945 higher education institutions across 10 networks and 55 working groups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Red de Mujeres en TIC: A specialized network within MetaRed focused on promoting and visibilizing the role of women working in ICT areas at Higher Education Institutions in Ibero-America, with participating countries including Argentina, Brazil, Central America and Caribbean, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Portugal.

Products and services

• Cursos Internacionales CIO International training courses for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) at higher education institutions, covering ICT leadership, digital transformation strategy, and legal responsibilities, with multiple annual editions available.
• Cursos Internacionales CISO International training courses for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) at universities, focusing on cybersecurity leadership and governance, with the fifth edition scheduled for 2026.
• Curso Internacional para Rectores/as International course for university rectors and presidents on digital strategy and transformation, available in bilingual format, with the sixth edition scheduled.
• Kit de Concienciaci\u00f3n en Ciberseguridad Cybersecurity awareness kit for Ibero-American universities, developed in collaboration with INCIBE (Instituto de Ciberseguridad de Espa\u00f1a). Includes simulated attacks, posters, brochures, training materials, and monthly security tips adapted for university environments.
• Premio Internacional MetaRed TIC International award recognizing the best university initiatives in digital transformation, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility and sustainability across Ibero-American higher education institutions, with the seventh edition scheduled for 2026.
• Podcast 'Qu\u00e9 piensan las que triunfan' Podcast series from the MetaRed Women in ICT Network that highlights the role of women working in ICT areas at Ibero-American universities, available on Spotify. Launched in 2025 aligned with strategic line 5: 'Promote and make visible the participation of women in ICT at IES.'
• Competencia Digital Docente Digital teaching competency self-assessment tool for faculty at Ibero-American higher education institutions, based on the European DigCompEdu framework, coordinated with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.
• Productos TI Cr\u00edticos Interactive dashboard and reports analyzing critical ICT products and services used by higher education institutions, including implementation levels, supplier preferences, in-house vs outsourced balance, cloud vs on-premise preferences, and satisfaction ratings across Ibero-American universities, with 245 institutions participating in the 2025 survey.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2020JRC collaborated with MetaRed to adapt their 'Check-In' digital competence self-evaluation tool for Ibero-American higher education. The tool is based on the DigCompEdu framework and enables institutions to assess teaching staff digital competencies.
• Instituto de Ciberseguridad de España (INCIBE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINCIBE, Spain's Cybersecurity Institute, collaborated with MetaRed to adapt their cybersecurity awareness kit for Ibero-American universities. INCIBE authored the original kit, while MetaRed performed necessary adaptations for the university context.
• Fundación UniversiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFundación Universia provides operational support and collaboration for MetaRed's activities as part of the Universia higher education network initiative.
• Harvard UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvard University collaborated on providing innovative leadership content through the MetaRed educational program, specifically referenced in the 'Harvard University: Innovative Leadership' course offering.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• JISC: UK not-for-profit providing digital solutions, shared services, and professional development to higher education institutions. Comparable to MetaRed in mission (collective ICT capability for universities) and structure (membership-based, working groups, training programs).
• RedCLARA: Latin American collaboration network of national research and education networks. Directly comparable as a regional collaborative ICT network operating in the same Ibero-American geography, with similar member institution participation and knowledge-sharing objectives.
• Internet2: US-based non-profit consortium providing ICT infrastructure, community programs, and professional development for higher education and research institutions. Comparable as a member-driven higher education ICT network with similar community, training, and benchmarking functions.
• EUNIS (European University Information Systems): European professional association for higher education IT leaders. Directly comparable as a membership-based network delivering professional development, working groups, and benchmarking for university ICT staff — albeit focused on Europe rather than Ibero-America.

Regional players

• RENATER: French national research and education network serving universities and research institutions. Comparable as a higher education ICT network delivering services to member institutions, but operating primarily in France rather than Ibero-America.
• SURF: Dutch cooperative of educational and research institutions focused on digital infrastructure, innovation, and professional development. Comparable in mission and member-driven structure, though serving the Netherlands rather than Ibero-America.
• AARNet: Australian academic and research network providing ICT infrastructure and services to universities. Comparable as a member-based ICT organization serving higher education, but operating in Australia rather than Ibero-America.
• CSUC (Consorci de Serveis Universitaris de Catalunya): Catalan consortium providing shared ICT services to universities in Catalonia. Comparable as a higher education ICT collaboration organization serving member universities, though narrower in scope (Catalonia) than MetaRed's Ibero-American reach.

Broad incumbents

• EDUCAUSE: Large US-based higher education IT association with broad portfolio of research, training, conferences, and community programs. Comparable in addressing university CIO/CISO communities, but as a much larger and more established organization serving primarily North American institutions.
• GÉANT: European collaboration of national research and education networks providing pan-European ICT infrastructure and services. Comparable as a federated higher education ICT network, but operating at pan-European scale and primarily focused on network infrastructure rather than training and benchmarking.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metaredbyuniversia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MetaRed by Universia