Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – June 26, 2025
The Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs, and Development, the European Union, and the Inter-American Development Bank, successfully hosted a two-day event recognizing and accelerating the growth of innovation and entrepreneurship in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Shaping the Future of Innovation (STFOI) event, held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad on June 25–26, celebrated the achievements of recipients under the fourth call of the Innovation Challenge Facility (ICF) and provided a dynamic platform for the continued development of MSMEs across the country.
Day 1 featured the Grant Awards Ceremony, honouring local innovators whose projects spanned high-impact sectors such as agriculture, ICT, agro-processing, and the creative industries. In his opening remarks, Mr. Hans-Erich Schulz, CEO of CARIRI, praised the vision and persistence of entrepreneurs who turned bold ideas into transformative ventures. Feature speaker Ms. Satee Boodoo, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs, emphasized the government’s continued support for inclusive innovation as a driver of economic resilience.
A highlight of the day was the Shaping the Future of Innovation Partner Panel, where representatives from CARIRI,, EU, and IDB reflected on lessons learned and affirmed their commitment to enabling an ecosystem where innovation thrives. The event also featured stories from previous and current grant recipients, followed by the formal awarding of certificates and the official opening of the STFOI Exhibition.
Day 2 shifted to SME capacity building, with the theme “From Vision to Venture – Building Capacity, Connections, and Confidence.” 90 MSMEs were exposed to presentations, panel discussions and workshops designed to build capacity and competency in Intellectual Property, Financing Innovation, Cybertechnology, Digital Media, Export and building a leadership and growth mindset for entrepreneurs.
“The STFOI initiative has become a national benchmark for what public-private collaboration can achieve in the innovation space,” noted CARIRI CEO Mr. Schulz. “We’re proud to celebrate these entrepreneurs and look forward to seeing their continued impact.”
The STFOI project represents a pioneering effort to address gaps in Trinidad and Tobago’s innovation ecosystem—offering funding, mentorship, technical support, and policy engagement to drive inclusive, sustainable growth.
For more information, visit: https://future.cariri.com/