{"id":162313,"date":"2022-03-25T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-25T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=162313"},"modified":"2022-03-25T05:41:06","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T10:41:06","slug":"4-key-steps-caribbean-countries-need-to-take-to-become-technology-and-innovation-hubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2022\/03\/4-key-steps-caribbean-countries-need-to-take-to-become-technology-and-innovation-hubs\/","title":{"rendered":"4 key steps Caribbean countries need to take to become technology and innovation hubs\ufffc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Caribbean countries have been stating their intention to become the next Silicon Valley. We outline four key steps that countries should implement, in order to be a technology and innovation hub.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On 17 March, and as part of his contribution to Jamaica\u2019s 2022\/23 Budget Debate, Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, stated that Jamaica is to be positioned to be the technology and innovation hub of the Caribbean:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are known for our athletes, music and culture; now we must become known for being innovators and creators in science and technology,\u201d he said.<\/em><\/p>Source:  Jamaica Information Service<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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This posture by the Prime Minister is not new, as it was one of the topics discussed in our February 2022 Community Chat<\/a> on the ICT Pulse Podcast. In summary, and based on what is in the public domain, it appears that the primary focus that will facilitate Jamaica\u2019s transformation to a technology and innovation hub is education, which is reflected in assertions he has made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…one of the \u201csystemic transformations of the education system\u201d involves addressing the need for quality education and alignment with future job market\u2026<\/em><\/p>

\u201cAgainst this backdrop, he said investing in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), is vital, to producing new ideas and technologies that will \u201cexpand and increase the efficiency of our traditional industries\u2026<\/em><\/p>

\u201cWe must also create and invest in the industries of the future to diversify our industrial and productive base\u2026<\/em><\/p>

\u201cAdditionally, he said the Coding in Schools Programme, which seeks to educate students from grade One to 13 on basic numeracy, language, and problem-solving skills, is another strategic implementation that will position Jamaica as the \u201cSilicon Valley of the region\u201d\u2026<\/em><\/p>Source:  Jamaica Information Service<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Consistent with our Community Chat conversation, education, though important, should be one of many elements that are addressed to create the enabling environment to foster advanced technology use and innovation. Moreover, it is highlighted that in recent years, other Caribbean countries are indicated that they have been positioning themselves to be technology and innovation hubs, with a view to becoming the \u201cSilicon Valley of the Caribbean\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, most countries do not appear to have a cogent plan or roadmap through which to achieved that goal. Below, we outline four crucial steps countries need to implement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1.  Address infrastructure availability, affordability, quality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Across the Caribbean region, and in many countries, not a day passes when there is not a glitch or hiccup in the internet service that consumers experience. For example, at certain times of the day, the network becomes considerably more congested, and there is notable drop in transmission speeds, and it is quite common for loss of service to be experienced \u2013 albeit for a few minutes \u2013 but on an almost daily basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideally, and within the construct of fostering a technology\/innovation hub, the availability and quality of the internet service should be a given. Many tech companies and ventures maintain teams across the globe, with which they need to maintain continual contact. Also, and in an age of cloud-based services, teams are constantly using such resources, and so benefit from having uninterrupted internet access. Hence, there should be no hesitation about the business and ventures being able to have access to quality, high-speed internet consistently, and at affordable prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Focus on and prioritise tertiary education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Without a doubt, having a strong pipeline of quality talent is crucial to not only establish, but also to maintain a technology\/innovation hub. Further, and as much as the focus in Jamaica appears to be on developing coding skills in primary and secondary schools, it is actually at the tertiary level that true credibility resides. For example, it is recommended that there be specialised and reputable universities known for producing highly skilled graduates in key areas, such as computing and engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3.  Create an enabling environment for investment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the world of remote work, many organisations and teams are accessing talent from across the world, which may appear to obviate the need for a hub. However, there are benefits in having a hub, such as to encourage collaboration, coordination and cross-pollination of ideas, and for knowledge and ideas to be shared, which in turn can spur innovation, which is an underlying objective of the hub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, and addition to having highly skilled talent, a key ingredient in building a technology\/innovation hub is money, that is companies that are prepared to fostering the hub, by among other things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n