The Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) is a primary agency of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago with responsibility for developing the country’s technological base via the provision of technical and technology-based support services to the public and private sectors, encompassing both manufacturing and services. The Institute was established in 1970 as an initiative of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago with financial and technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). It was incorporated under Act of Parliament no. 19 of 1971, which was subsequently amended by Act no. 33 of 1981. 

Although established with funding from the Government and the aforementioned international agencies, at the outset the Institute’s mandate catered for the provision of services to the Caribbean region. Traditionally, the Institute’s service base has been quite diverse, comprising the provision of laboratory-based analytical and engineering services (testing utilizing state-of-the-art, internationally accredited facilities), as well as associated consultancy support, training and applied Research and Development (primarily investigative/developmental work). The base was expanded in 2014 with the establishment of CARIRI’s flagship development, the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED). 

Presently, the Institute provides a range of technology/technology based support services to the public and private sectors, encompassing Laboratory testing/analytical services via our St Augustine and Macoya laboratory facilities.  The Institute provides Research, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Development (REID) and ICT Consultancy Services through our Innovation Ecosystem at the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED), Freeport.