Tag: innovation

ICTP 396: The economics of AI for the Caribbean region, with Dr Justin Ram

ICTP 396: The economics of AI for the Caribbean region, with Dr Justin Ram

Posted by | 22 Apr 2026 |

We often talk about AI as a Silicon Valley phenomenon, but the economics of AI is a Caribbean story too. It’s about more than just chatbots; it is about a general-purpose technology that is fundamentally shifting how we value labour, productivity, and even regional data sovereignty. International Economist, Dr Justin Ram, joins us once again and shares his thoughts on: the factors he uses to determine the impact of AI on an economy; the impact of AI on our services sector, and the opportunities emerging thanks to AI; the potential for AI to widen the digital and socio-economic divide; and whether AI is an existential threat to Caribbean economies.

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ICTP 394: Technology as an export, the Caribbean region’s new economic pillar, with Vashti Maharaj of the Commonwealth Secretariat

ICTP 394: Technology as an export, the Caribbean region’s new economic pillar, with Vashti Maharaj of the Commonwealth Secretariat

Posted by | 8 Apr 2026 |

For decades, exports in the Caribbean meant sugar, bauxite, or tourism. But as countries recognise the need for greater economic diversification and resilience, more substantial inroads must be made in the technology exports sector, which can also bolster countries’ economic development. We revisit a conversation we had in 2024 with Vashti Maharaj, the Adviser, Digital Trade Policy, of the Commonwealth Secretariat, in which we discussed, among other things;: defining the concept of technology as an export; factors hindering the growth of the technology export sector in the region; important trade agreements that can benefit Caribbean technology exporters; and advice she would give to a Caribbean tech entrepreneur looking to expand internationally.

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ICTP 391: Using AI and VR technologies to protect our Caribbean culture and legacy, with Amanda Zilla of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre

ICTP 391: Using AI and VR technologies to protect our Caribbean culture and legacy, with Amanda Zilla of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre

Posted by | 18 Mar 2026 |

As a cultural powerhouse, the Caribbean region has the potential to become a digital leader in leveraging AI and VR technologies to preserve the region’s unique identity, modernise its education systems, and ensure that digital inclusion reaches every citizen. Amanda Zilla, the Principal Investigator of the dream LAB, within the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (AIIC), joins us to discuss, among other things, the ways in which AI and VR can be leveraged in areas such as the arts, culture, and education; how VR and AI can help Caribbean people to better engage with their own history; how the dream LAB is navigating thorny issues such as copyright and cultural appropriation; and how AI-enhanced VR experiences help countries further develop their tourism product beyond sea and sand.

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ICTP 383: Building a digital venture studio in the Caribbean, with Rodney Browne of the Innovation Factory

ICTP 383: Building a digital venture studio in the Caribbean, with Rodney Browne of the Innovation Factory

Posted by | 21 Jan 2026 |

In an era of tighter funding, rising development costs, and increasing pressure to demonstrate real value, digital venture studios are proving to be an alternative to the more traditional incubator and accelerator startup models. Seasoned tech entrepreneur and innovator, Rodney Browne, launched the Innovation Factory in 2025 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, which is currently building four ventures with plans to bring them to market later this year. In our conversation with Rodney, he shares with us, among other things: the ventures he has been building; how he balances his time between the Innovation Factory and his other commitments; how the startup/entrepreneurship landscape in Saint Kitts and Nevis changed since he launched his first business; and the advice he would give to someone wanting to build something similar to the Innovation Factory.

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