For any country aspiring to significant technological development, the concept of “critical mass” is not a mere buzzword, but a fundamental prerequisite. In this article, we discuss the importance of achieving critical mass for Caribbean and other developing countries to achieve the technological development envisaged.
For at least the past two decades, Caribbean countries have been on the never-ending treadmill of trying to become technologically advanced. Although undoubtedly progress has been made, the pace of development tends to be slower than in other countries or regions, resulting in a widening gap that is becoming increasingly difficult to close.
Having said this and across the region, local tech communities are spearheading highly innovative ventures, and governments, donor agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are implementing a broad range of projects, especially those geared towards ICT for development (ICT4D). However, all of this effort seems to result in an imperceptible shift of the needle, or no shift at all, which can lead us to ask, “Where are the results of all of the work and investment that has been made?”
In a news article published on 28 June 2025, ‘Jamaica cannot fall behind in technology development’, the National Security Minister of Jamaica and the President of the University of Technology (UTech) were reported to have expressed views that “Jamaica cannot afford to be left behind in the global development and application of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI).” The comments were made at the launch of UTech’s second annual STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) summer camp, in which the importance of STEM was emphasised to accelerate Jamaica’s development, as well as the value of hands-on education and practical experience.
However, how many times have Caribbean countries heard similar statements on using technology to accelerate… fill in the blank – our economic development, our digital transformation, achieving developed country status, etc. However, this year’s UTech summer camp, where views were being expressed on Jamaica not being left behind in the tech space, is hosting up to 200 students, aged between 12 and 16 years (grades seven to 10), for about 10 days. Essentially, just a handful of students for a few days. What impact will this summer camp have on moving the needle?
The importance of critical mass
For any country envisioning a future driven by innovation and technological prowess, the concept of critical mass is not merely an aspiration but an absolute necessity. It represents the crucial juncture where individual efforts coalesce into a self-sustaining and rapidly accelerating force, transforming scattered potential into impactful, nationwide technological development. Without achieving this pivotal “tipping point,” even significant investments and brilliant individual inventions risk stagnating, unable to generate the momentum required for true advancement.
Critical mass, in the context of technological development, is the point at which a sufficient concentration of interconnected elements, such as skilled talent, innovative ideas, supporting infrastructure, and accessible capital, coalesce to generate a powerful, self-reinforcing cycle of growth. It’s the moment when the system becomes greater than the sum of its parts, leading to exponential progress.
Building critical mass in the tech space
When a country successfully cultivates critical mass in its tech sector, the benefits cascade throughout the entire economy and society. A sustained multisector (or multi-pronged) approach must be evident, as several ecosystem elements, such as technology, talent, business, entrepreneurship and innovation, must be addressed over the long term to achieve the digital development envisaged.
Suitable and comprehensively deployed physical infrastructure is essential so that all citizens have access to and are in a position to use the technology and the associated devices. Across the region, the poor quality of telecommunications, and more so internet services, has been a perennial complaint. Also, the rates payable for internet service, in particular, are often beyond the reach of average consumers to allow them continuous access to that medium. The difficulty was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many low-income households did not have the resources to secure internet connectivity at home for their school-aged children, even if a smartphone or tablet computer was available through which to do so.
Another essential element is having a thriving talent pool. When countries have an adequate number of skilled professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs and the environment is created for them to meet, it creates a dynamic environment for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the formation of new ventures. To a considerable degree, this talent pool is driven by the education system and the existence of robust programmes to develop not only advanced ICT skills but also a broad range of other disciplines. It is also important to note that the focus should not be just on professionals, academia and business persons. Programmes must be established to build the technical capacity of the entire population, which must be sustained over the long term. All too often, on-off workshops or training courses on computer literacy or digital literacy, for example, and which often have little impact when considered from the country perspective.
The local business and entrepreneurship communities have several roles to play in fostering the technological development of countries. First, the business community is an important channel to nurture talent and the labour pool, through employment and utilising the skills that have been developed. However, if the labour exists and is not being adequately utilised, the existing brain drain is exacerbated, or alternatively, individuals are underemployed and essentially lose the skills they had developed.
Further, mention must be made of societal attitudes towards failure, entrepreneurship, and risk-taking, especially in the Caribbean region, which can have a significant impact on technological development. We need to create a culture of innovation and risk-taking that celebrates innovation, views failure as a learning opportunity, and encourages individuals to pursue entrepreneurial paths. More importantly, in adopting such a posture, we must put our money where our mouth is and invest in tech innovation and entrepreneurship. All too often, Caribbean countries and investors are eager for innovation, yet are highly risk-averse, resulting either in local entrepreneurs emigrating to more responsive countries or promising ventures dying or never realising their full potential.
Finally, it is crucial that an enabling regulatory environment is maintained. Burdensome regulations, complex bureaucratic processes, dated legislation, and a lack of clear legal frameworks can stifle innovation, deter investment and overall frustrate stakeholders.Governments must create agile, transparent, and supportive regulatory environments in areas including but not limited to intellectual property protection, data privacy laws, labour laws, and ease of doing business.
Conclusion
Achieving meaningful technological development is a multifaceted endeavour, but realising critical mass is indispensable and the ultimate catalyst. However, for critical mass to be achieved, the interlocking elements must all be at a stage where they complement each other. For example, if an effort has been made to develop the talent pool, the business community must be prepared to absorb that talent. Similarly, if programmes are established to nurture pre-seed stage tech start-ups, but the investor pool when those ventures are looking for funding does not exist (or there is a mismatch of needs), once again, tech innovation will be thwarted.
Further, although previously mentioned, building the critical mass to achieve meaningful technological development is a marathon and not a sprint. Ad hoc efforts, such as the UTech STEM summer camp, though laudable, on its own and in the grand scheme of things, do not create momentum. A country-wide STEM summer camp that complements the curriculum in the formal school system, which will be run over several years, would have a considerably greater impact.
In summary, the path to a technologically advanced future lies in understanding and meticulously building towards that crucial moment when all the pieces align. When critical mass has been achieved, the tipping point will inevitably follow, and the momentum becomes unstoppable.
Image credit: lifeforstock (Freepik)
