The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) and the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (AIIC) at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine have formalised a major strategic partnership aimed at advancing artificial intelligence (AI) development, digital transformation, and innovation across Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.
The agreement was sealed on Monday with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the AIIC facility, marking what both institutions describe as a pivotal step toward bridging the gap between industry and academia in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
The collaboration is expected to significantly accelerate AI adoption, strengthen policy frameworks, and expand training and research capacity in key sectors including cybersecurity, digital trade, and industrial innovation.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, AMCHAM T&T Chief Executive Officer Nirad Tewarie described the partnership as a “powerful but still largely untapped opportunity” to align academic expertise with real-world business needs.
He said the collaboration would help private sector actors better understand, adopt, and scale AI-driven solutions in a structured and responsible manner.
“A closer partnership between industry and academia represents a powerful opportunity to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world application,” Tewarie said.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine welcomed the partnership as a transformative move for the region’s innovation landscape.
She emphasised that the Caribbean must shift from being a consumer of imported technologies to a creator of indigenous, ethically grounded AI solutions.
“This represents a deliberate shift from being consumers of technology to becoming creators of responsible, indigenous AI solutions shaped by our own realities,” she stated.
The Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre (Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre), established in 2018, is widely regarded as the Caribbean’s first and largest hub for AI research, education, and innovation.
Over the years, it has developed into a multidisciplinary centre with more than 50 members, over 35 active research projects, and partnerships spanning more than 20 regional and international institutions.
Its research portfolio spans a wide range of fields including cybersecurity, agriculture, climate resilience, digital humanities, AI governance, and ethical technology development.
The Centre’s core mission is to ensure that the Caribbean is not only a consumer of emerging technologies but also an active contributor to global AI innovation.
