Introduction
Science, technology, and innovation (STI), including information and communication technologies, are fundamental drivers of sustainable development across each and all economic, social, and environmental sectors. To capitalise on rapid technological advancements and effectively address critical development challenges Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are prioritizing the strengthening their STI capacities and mechanisms at national and subregional levels. This strategic investment and policy driven directive in STI is essential to fostering economic growth and opportunity while concurrently tackling pressing issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change and its associated impacts, disaster risk reduction, environmental degradation, freshwater scarcity, and the unsustainable use of natural resources. This demonstration of prioritisation of STI including research, technology transfers and adaptation are detailed in the outcomes from the preparatory meetings for the Fourth International Conference on SIDS on the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity (ABAS, 2024).
The outcomes from the preparatory meetings for the Fourth International Conference on SIDS on the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity.
II. What Do SIDS Want?
A. Build Resilient Economies
Line 18. We underscore that SIDS face substantial structural challenges building the necessary ecosystem, institutions and capacity for promoting and using science, technology, innovation and digitalization to drive economic growth and sustainable development.
Line 20. We welcome and call for support for the efforts of SIDS in establishing a SIDS Center of Excellence in Antigua and Barbuda that will be launched at the Fourth International Conference on SIDS which will include, inter alia, a SIDS Data Hub, a technology and innovation mechanism and an Island Investment Forum.
Line 21. Acknowledging that SIDS are highly dependent on imports, with limited export capacity, and face current account deficits and limited fiscal space, compounded by limited access to concessional financing, SIDS seek the support of the international community to:
i. Develop and expand their productive capacity by:
c. Investing in higher productivity sectors including in advanced technologies and digital economy to provide better paying jobs for people in SIDS and reduce brain drain and labour mobility.
iii. Promote resilient and sustainable tourism by:
d. Developing creative and innovative employment solutions, including for informal workers, to provide resilience to the workforce, taking into account national circumstances;
iv. Promote sustainable ocean-based economies by:
c. Creating and supporting an enabling policy environment to maximize diaspora remittances, investment, skills and experience for research, innovation, economic development and diversification to shift towards environmentally sustainable practices and technologies.
B. A secure future
Line 26. Recognizing that various anthropogenic pressures and adverse impacts of climate change as well as global shocks continue to impede water availability and food and energy security, and further recognizing the importance of access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, and connectivity, SIDS seek the support of the international community to;
i. Foster sustainable energy transitions and energy efficiency, and ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, based on all energy sources, in particular renewable energy sources.
a. Urgently enhancing support, investment and partnerships for just, inclusive, equitable, and resilient energy transitions and energy efficiency, including clean and renewable energy infrastructure, technology and training, with a view to fulfilling SIDS’ bold and ambitious renewable energy targets for the next decade;
c. Developing SIDS-specific technologies and applications for renewable energy deployment, and integration into the power system, and promoting efforts to reduce the cost of capital for renewables;
iii. Enhance food security by:
a. Developing and implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies that take into account the linkages between food, water and energy, such as integrating climate-resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable agricultural practices and the deployment of agricultural technologies that are resilient to the adverse impacts of climate change;
C. Environmental Protection and Planetary Sustainability
Line 30. SIDS seek the support of the international community to:
i. Urgently take action on climate change by:
a. Accelerated actions on the effective implementation of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, guided by science and agreed principles;
iii. Conserve, restore and sustainably use biodiversity by:
b. Support SIDS to identify financing and capacity gaps in meeting biodiversity objectives and develop partnerships, particularly with the private sector, to develop innovative strategies to bridge these gaps;
c. Updating the programme of work on island biodiversity adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity, particularly in the context of the ongoing process to identify scientific and technical needs of SIDS;
d. Developing an island biodiversity capacity-building and development action plan, on the basis of the review of the capacity, and technology absorption and sustaining abilities of SIDS and in line with the program of work on island biodiversity;
e. Acknowledging the important roles and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity and as partners in its conservation, restoration and sustainable use; and ensuring the rights, knowledge, including traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity, innovations, worldviews, values and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities are respected, and documented and preserved with their free, prior and informed consent, including through their full and effective participation in decision-making, in accordance with relevant national legislation, international instruments, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and human rights law.
III. How Do SIDS Get There?
Line 32. Therefore, to realize The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS by 2034, we, the international community, commit to the following actions:
A. Build Economic Resilience
v. Enable youth economic participation by:
a. Harnessing the demographic dividend by equipping youth with education and skills including through capacity building and training initiatives to pursue opportunities in traditional, emerging and innovative economies;
b. Supporting youth-driven startups, providing financial backing, mentorship, and resources to cultivate a new generation of entrepreneurs and steer SIDS toward economic resilience and diversification through innovation.
B. Scale-up climate action and support, including climate finance, in line with existing commitments and obligations under UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement
i. Accelerated actions towards full and effective implementation of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement by:
a. Taking urgent actions to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to accelerate action in this critical decade on the basis of the best available science, reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty;
D. Conserve and sustainably use the ocean and its resources
i. Support ocean-based action by:
c. Exploring, developing and promoting innovative financing solutions to drive the transformation to sustainable ocean-based economies, and the scaling up of nature-based solutions, ecosystem-based approaches to support the resilience, restoration and conservation of coastal ecosystems, including through public-private sector partnerships and capital market instruments, provide technical assistance to enhance the bankability and feasibility of projects, as well as mainstream the values of marine natural capital into decision-making and address barriers to accessing financing, recognizing that further support is needed from developed countries, especially regarding capacity building, financing and technology transfer;
d. Pursuing opportunities for research and innovation in ocean-related industries that explore new technologies, sustainable practices, and innovative solutions;
G. Data collection, analysis and use
i. Strengthening data collection, storage and analysis by:
c. Enhancing science based and innovative approaches, including sustainable development oriented, inclusive and responsible use of artificial intelligence, in the non-military domain, in full respect, promotion and protection of human rights and international law, for the collection, storage, analysis, disaggregation, dissemination and use of demographic data in SIDS, including use of geo-spatial technologies;
H. Science, technology, innovation and digitalization
i. Harness the potential of science, technology and innovation and advance the benefits of digitalization in SIDS by:
a. Providing SIDS the necessary means of implementation to strengthen their scientific and technological capacities;
b. Taking action to harness digital technologies to achieve sustainable development in SIDS by strengthening digital cooperation, developing digital infrastructure, bridging digital divides and ensuring an open, and inclusive digital future for all;
c. Assisting SIDS in developing national roadmaps for digitalization, science, technology and innovation (STI) and to support SIDS to build up national capacities for developing and utilizing the state-of-the-art technologies, including renewable energy technologies, marine technologies for the ocean-based economy and other areas significant to sustainable development, including digital technologies;
d. Assisting the development of policies and legislation to create an enabling environment to boost digital transformation, innovation, enhance digital infrastructure and connectivity, bridge digital divides, enhance digital skills, support government digital services and Digital Public Infrastructure, and leverage science and technology, including new and emerging technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI), taking into account the unique needs of SIDS;
e. Supporting the SIDS Center of Excellence through its innovation and technology mechanism to provide learning opportunities, exchange experiences and support innovation, so as to enhance capacity building and narrow the digital divides;
f. Creating and supporting inclusive digital societies, and implement initiatives at all levels to develop human resources in science and technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM), especially to promote the interest of children including girls, youth, women, persons with disabilities and other people in vulnerable situations, and to strengthen the quality of education and re-skilling in these fields by modernizing school curricula;
h. Supporting the building of capacity among SIDS populations to access new and emerging technological innovations, improving digital and financial literacy and skills, to ensure that everyone, especially the most vulnerable, have access to services, both offline and online, and benefit from economic opportunities.
I. Productive populations
i. Increase prosperity and productive capacities, employment, equality and inclusivity in SIDS by:
a. Empowering SIDS to capture the benefits of digital technologies and resources for inclusive, equitable and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities, including through distance learning;
d. Developing policies, strategies and norms to promote employment and reducing unemployment and underemployment, by promoting skills development and productivity, technology transfer on mutually agreed terms and experience-sharing that respond to evolving job markets and reducing barriers to employment, especially for youth and women;
J. Partnerships
i. New, innovative and bold approaches to partnership based on mutual collaboration and ownership, trust, alignment, harmonization, respect, results orientation, accountability, transparency, including with relevant stakeholders, and cooperation that leverages a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, by:
c. Leveraging North-South, Triangular and South-South cooperation, including SIDS-to-SIDS, to mobilize human, financial, technical, and technological resources, while recalling that South-South cooperation is not a substitute for, but rather a complement to, North-South cooperation.
Robust policy directives and effective institutional frameworks are essential for advancing science, technology, and innovation to achieve sustainable development. These frameworks must encompass education, capacity development, research, knowledge and data sharing, financing, monitoring, and reporting. Governments, development partners, the private sector, civil society, and other key stakeholders must prioritize strategies to strengthen knowledge creation, including building regional and domestic scientific, technical, and innovation capacities.
STI has a crucial role in driving productivity, particularly when applied to the SIDS economies. The SIDS often face constraints due to limited resources, geographical locations, and market access. Furthermore, their unique dependence on coastal and ocean resources for economic activities such as fishing, tourism, and transportation adds another layer of complexity. Investments in STI significantly enhance productivity by fostering innovation, improving efficiency, promoting sustainable development and promoting gainful employment. For example, investing in renewable energy technologies, including ocean-based renewables like wave and tidal energy, can reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports, boosting energy independence and freeing up resources for other development priorities. Similarly, promoting technological advancements in sustainable aquaculture and ocean-friendly tourism can enhance food security, diversify the economy, and create new export opportunities while protecting the fragile marine ecosystems. By embracing STI, SIDS can unlock their economic potential and build more resilient and prosperous societies. Supporting this purpose, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)- Fourth meeting of the Conference on Science and Technology- Bogotá, 4 and 5 April 2024 further addressed STI's use to address the challenges of low productivity and other sustainable developmental priorities (see Box 1).
Box 1: Fourth meeting of the Conference on Science, Innovation and ICTs of ECLAC, Bogotá, 4 and 5 April 2024, see link at: https://innovalac.cepal.org/4/en
In recognition of the strategic importance of STIs and their role as a necessary lever in sustainable development, the Caribbean (ECLAC) Subregional Headquarters, in keeping with its 2024 work programme, has prepared this desk study providing information on the institutions and other agencies having science and technology-related activities in the SIDS. The information also includes data on emerging technologies supporting Sargassum Technologies and Innovative Solutions in the Caribbean SIDS. The information used to prepare this database was obtained from publicly available websites and other published sources.
Format
The format of the desk study provides information on the institutions and other agencies having science- and technology-related activities in the SIDS. The database is a Microsoft Excel File- Titled: Caribbean SIDS Information on Institutions and Other Agencies Having Science and Technology Activities A Desk Report as of December 2024.
Datasheets. The data and information are presented in two excel datasheets. These are:
A. Caribbean English Speaking Member States, including the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. This data sheet includes the information on 1. Science And Technology: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Educational Institutions 2. Public Sector Science and Technology Entities, And 3. Science And Technology Research Institutions
B. Caribbean Intergovernmental Bodies Having Science and Technology-Related Activities. This data sheet includes the information on 1. Caribbean Intergovernmental Bodies Having Science and Technology Educational Activities 2. Inter-governmental/Regional Science and Technology Research Institutions and 3. Caribbean Inter-Governmental Institutions Applying Science and Technology in Their Operations, and 4. Caribbean intergovernmental bodies applying science and technology for sargassum management.
Summaries:
Based on the findings from the web search, the data and information obtained were analysed and presented to the national and regional institutions and other agencies that have science- and technology-related activities in the Caribbean SIDS, including:
A: Caribbean Member States
1. Science and Technology: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Educational Institutions:
Science and technology is part of the curriculum in each country and under the portfolio of the Ministry of Education. Member countries have adopted their primary and secondary school curricula to include more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) content, training teachers to deliver STEM subjects and conducting outreach programs to encourage students to pursue STEM careers. Specific S&T initiatives that have been implemented to promote STEM in schools include:
• Curriculum reform: The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has introduced STEM-related subjects, including natural science, agricultural science, digital media, biotechnology, and computer science.
• Teacher training: Governments and regional organisations are training teachers more effectively to teach STEM subjects. The Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) also offers teacher training programmes in science and technology.
• Outreach programs: According to the information on Government websites, many countries have also established national STEM outreach programs, which include short workshops and competitions, to engage students and teachers in STEM activities and experiences.
a. Tertiary Level- Science and Technology Education:
• Universities: All countries provide access to tertiary-level science and technology programmes. This includes engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science degrees. These institutions also have active research programmes in the STEM fields.
o In addition to having public universities, the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines host offshore universities. This offshore university offers degree programmes in various fields.
• Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions play an important role in providing training in S&T. The information obtained for each country and accessed via the web search listed at least one state-based institution offering TVET programmes. These institutions offer certificates, diplomas and associate degrees in health sciences, information and communication technology (ICT), engineering technology, STEM-related trades such as electrical and auto mechanical certifications and the natural sciences.
2. Public Sector Science and Technology Entities
• Ministries- Barbados, Belize and Jamaica have Ministries with science and technology portfolios and specialised agencies. Jamaica, for example, under its Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunication and Transport, has the Scientific Research Council (SRC). The SRC is a Statutory Body and is Jamaica's principal public sector agency, fostering and coordinating scientific research and promoting and applying its results. The SRC collects, collates and reviews information concerning scientific research schemes or programmes relevant to the development of Jamaica's resources (and) establishes and maintains a scientific information centre for collecting and disseminating scientific and technical information. It also provides consultancy services to the manufacturing industry. Jamaica has a recent (2022) STI Policy titled: National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy to catalyse national development. The Barbados- Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology is responsible for Research and Development, Creating a Culture of Innovation in Barbados, Promotion of Science and Innovation in the Public Sector, Schools and the Wider Society and for Identification of Funding Opportunities in Research, Science and Innovation -Technology.
3. Science and Technology Regional Research Institutions. The web-based data indicated that countries have institutions and sectors responsible for science, technology, innovation, and digitalisation. The arrangements of these institutions are for example:
• Partnership with UN Agency- Antigua and Barbuda has a collaboration with a UN agency titled the Antigua/Barbuda Science Innovation Park.
• Assigned and conducted through national and regional universities.
• Inter-governmental agencies having the thematic focus of research at the country level. This is, for example, in the case of the Caribbean Agricultural Research Development Institute (CARDI). In keeping with the CARDI Strategic Plan (2018-2022), CARDI's research is aligned with national priorities.
• Private Sectors- the web-based data search for private sectors providing science and technology services revealed that a company is providing regional services in coastal zone management and the research areas of the offshore Universities.
B: Caribbean Intergovernmental Bodies Having Science and Technology-Related Activities
The web-based data indicated that an estimated 14 Caribbean regional bodies engaged in science and technology and areas of education, research, disaster management, climate change, health, ecosystem degradation, food security, and water resources management. Examples of these are:
• The University of the West Indies at its Campuses in Trinidad and Tobago (St Augustine), Jamaica (Mona Campus) and Barbados (Cave Hill Campus). The University of the West Indies (UWI) is the leading Caribbean regional university with a strong focus on science and technology research, including research and development.
• Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF): Hosted at the UWI Cave Hill Campus, the CSF accelerates and supports technology‐based entrepreneurship by Promoting and offering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs, including robotics camps and computer coding workshops for Caribbean youth, offering business and entrepreneurship education programs for Caribbean youth, deliver STEM teacher training exercises in the Region, stimulate technology‐based entrepreneurship by identifying and funding science and technology projects in new and existing enterprises that are relevant to the economic development needs of the region, and provide scientific and engineering advisory services to Caribbean governments by working with the Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology and Innovation (CADSTI) to leverage the expertise that resides in the Diaspora.
• The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH). The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) is a training and research organisation. The mission of the CIMH is to improve the meteorological and hydrological services and to assist in promoting the awareness of the benefits of these services for the economic well-being of the CMO countries. Research is focused on Caribbean regional solutions in climate, disaster management, environment, meteorology, agrometeorology, and hydrology.
• The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) is one of the foremost organisations dedicated to conducting research and development to improve regional agricultural competitiveness and sustainability. It is headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago and has representation in the 14 CARICOM member countries.
• Sargassum Management: The safe and sustainable management requirement of sargassum seaweed, presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Caribbean SIDS. While excessive Sargassum influxes can disrupt tourism, fisheries, and coastal ecosystems, this abundant biomass can also be valorized as a valuable natural resource. Research and development efforts are exploring various applications for Sargassum. The Caribbean SIDS are conducting research and market opportunities on the use of Sargassum including its use as a biofertilizer, a source of biofuel, and a raw material for producing bioplastics and other bio-based products.
C. Recommendations:
This desk-based database offers a valuable overview of science and technology institutions and priorities within Caribbean SIDS. The current reliance on secondary data necessitates a follow-up phase involving direct contact with the listed agencies and organizations. This will allow for verification of the information gathered through web searches and ensure the database remains up-to-date and accurate. This direct engagement will also provide opportunities to gather more detailed information on current STI activities, priorities, gaps and challenges faced by these institutions.