CvLAC (MinCiencias)

What CvLAC (MinCiencias) MCP server does

CvLAC (MinCiencias) MCP server connects an MCP-compatible AI application to the Colombian CvLAC website. It uses the account you already use on the site and lets you manage research-CV information through conversation rather than entering every form manually.

Supported records include academic and complementary education, professional experience, short courses, awards, projects, software, scientific events, languages, research lines, articles, books, book chapters, directed theses, juries, technical production, and profile information. Profile data can include presentation text, academic networks, and areas of activity.

The server can read existing entries and add, correct, or delete supported records. Before saving a potentially duplicated item, the assistant can show the similar entry and ask whether to update it or create a separate record. It then checks whether CvLAC reports that the change was saved.

How it works

The application runs on your computer and controls its own Chromium browser to interact with CvLAC. The browser runs without a visible window after installation. Your login information is kept in a separate file in your user directory, and the project states that credentials do not leave the computer or pass through an intermediate server.

An MCP-compatible client provides the chat interface. The README lists Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Zed, and JetBrains as usable clients. You describe the record to inspect or change, and the assistant uses the available operations to work through CvLAC’s forms and catalogs.

The diff operation can compare CvLAC with a web portfolio only when that portfolio follows the expected structure. Without such a portfolio, you can provide CV text in the chat and have the assistant compare it item by item while requesting confirmation for ambiguous matches.

Setup and configuration

Use a Windows, macOS, or Linux computer with Node.js 20 or newer and an MCP-capable AI application. Installation requires downloading the package’s Chromium copy with:

npx -y cvlac-mcp@1 install-browser

The browser download is approximately 150 MB. The @1 package tag keeps the installation on the major version while still allowing fixes. Some Linux installations may also need Chromium system dependencies through Playwright.

The required CvLAC access details are the first name, national identification number, and password used on the website. The README describes storing them in a separate user-directory file readable only by the account owner. It also documents certificate-related Node settings for networks or antivirus software that intercept HTTPS traffic, including NODE_OPTIONS and NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS.

Tools and capabilities

CvLAC (MinCiencias) MCP server supports work across CvLAC sections, including:

• Reading and updating education, employment, projects, awards, courses, and events
• Managing publications, software, technical production, theses, juries, and languages
• Updating profile text, research lines, academic networks, and activity areas
• Handling catalog selections for institutions, municipalities, journals, books, publishers, programs, and areas
• Using complete_product for supported product details such as keywords, areas, coauthors, awards, and thesis students
• Using update_section for supported section changes, including local certificate paths for books
• Using diff with compatible structured web portfolios

Limitations and notes

The server cannot upload certificates through complete_product; book certificates are handled through update_section with local paths. It cannot create catalog entries for journals, books, publishers, programs, or areas that CvLAC does not already provide. When several catalog matches exist, the assistant presents options for selection.

Login currently assumes Colombian nationality and cannot start a session for an account with foreign nationality. Identification data and addresses are outside its scope, as is GrupLAC. It also cannot create a complementary-education program missing from CvLAC’s institutional catalog. The project is marked as unofficial.