Panel. Industry–policy dialogues on innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable business models in priority sectors

Panelists:

Senator Dr. Kenneth Connell - UWI (Healthcare industry)

Rommel Edwards - Barbados Port Inc.

Senator Ryan Forde - Tourism industry

Stratos D. Kamenis – OECD

Mark Neighbors – Regional China Officer – Caribbean & Canada, U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS

Carlo Pietrobelli – Professor Roma Tre | UNESCO Chair at UNU-MERIT

Moderator: Dhanaraj Thakur

Presentation Globelics

Jose Miguel Natera -UNAM

Andrew Cummins - Globelics

Thomas Woodson - SBU

Claudia De Fuentes - SMU

Hackathon teamwork

Hackathon Mentors:

Tatevik Poghosyan Track 1

Daniel Hernaiz Diez de Medina Track 1

Sandra Schillo Track 1

Damian Cohall Track 2

Jose Miguel Natera Track 2

Jimena Cuevas Portilla Track 2

Conference opening keynote. Innovation and sustainable development for the blue economy

Keynote: Daniela Garcia - CINPE

Moderator: Claudia De Fuentes

This keynote explores the role of innovation in advancing sustainable development within the Blue Economy, with a particular focus on Central America and the Caribbean, drawing on theoretical insights and empirical examples, especially from Costa Rica. It examines how innovation systems can be reoriented toward regenerative pathways by integrating technological, social, and institutional dimensions. The presentation highlights the importance of directionality, governance, and coordination in addressing trade-offs between economic development, environmental sustainability, and social well-being. The session concludes by outlining key challenges and policy implications for fostering inclusive and resilient blue economies.