On Wednesday 28th August 2024, the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) marked a significant step in its ongoing journey of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The much-anticipated PowerUp! Finals and Awards Ceremony, coupled with the relaunch of CARIRI’s newly revamped website, signal a bold step forward in empowering the next generation of visionary leaders and enhancing our service to stakeholders.
The PowerUp! Competition is the culmination of the Innovation Nation programme for students which would have seen over 3,600 participants accessing the free training in three different tracks, – Coding, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Climate Action. In order to ensure learning has taken place, the competition was designed to ignite the innovative spirit among the nation’s youth and has brought together some of the brightest minds and most ambitious students in our country. Over the past weeks, these young innovators have demonstrated extraordinary creativity, resilience, and a commitment to tackling real-world challenges through groundbreaking ideas.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hans-Erich Schulz, expressed the organization’s pride in the participants: “Each student here today has already won in so many ways. They have demonstrated the courage to dream big, and the creativity to turn ideas into reality, which is what we at CARIRI truly believe.”
In her address at the event, Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said that the PowerUp! Competition is a shining example of what can be achieved when youth are equipped with the tools, resources, and support they need to explore their ideas and bring them to life.
The competition has been more than just a showcase of talent; it has been a celebration of human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of progress. With the support of mentors, sponsors, and partners—including Republic Bank Limited under the Power to Make a Difference programme, bmobile, Guardian Media Limited, and Freedom 106.5—participants have had the unique opportunity to bring their innovative ideas to life.
In addition to celebrating the innovators of tomorrow, CARIRI proudly unveiled its newly redesigned website. This digital transformation represents CARIRI’s commitment to evolving with the needs of its stakeholders. Built entirely by the in-house ICT team, the website is not just a new look—it is a powerful tool designed to enhance how CARIRI connects, collaborates, and provides services, ranging from research and development to entrepreneurship support.
“Our new website is a reflection of our dedication to transparency, accessibility, and efficiency,” said Mr. Hayden Charles, ICT Programme Leader. “It is designed to be a one-stop resource for all things CARIRI, supporting our mission to catalyze innovation and drive industrial growth across the Caribbean.”
As CARIRI continues to drive innovation and economic growth in the Caribbean, it remains committed to supporting the next generation of leaders, fostering a community of innovators, and providing the resources necessary to turn ideas into reality.
