Let Innovation Be Our Clarion Call for Guyana’s Future

Mar 23, 2025 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

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Advancing Education, Technology and Innovation in Guyana…

By Karen Abrams, MBA, AA, Doctoral Candidate

Kaieteur News- A few months ago, I witnessed a remarkable display of ingenuity as a group of young Guyanese innovators tackled a challenge that many might have considered beyond their reach. Some brilliant folks from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) challenged a team of young engineers from STEMGuyana with developing a prototype solar panel cleaning robot, a concept with real-world significance. With solar farms expanding across Guyana, the manual cleaning of panels is both labor-intensive and crucial for maintaining efficiency and extending their lifespan.

Undeterred by the complexity of the challenge, these students, none older than 19 yrs old, collaborated to design, build, and successfully present a working model. Armed with limited resources but boundless creativity, they engineered a functional prototype, proving that Guyanese youth are not just capable of excelling in high-tech fields, they are ready to lead them. This was a demonstration of skill and a powerful testament to what happens when talent is nurtured and given the opportunity to thrive.

Now, imagine if we systematically nurtured this kind of innovation in every community in Guyana and across every sector, healthcare, education, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, even law enforcement. What if Guyana built a national innovation ecosystem, one that substantially funds talent wherever it is found, removes bureaucratic obstacles, and creates a pipeline for high-impact ideas to transform our society?

Some may think an innovation ecosystem is just a collection of smart people working on interesting projects, but it’s so much more than that. A true innovation ecosystem is a deliberate, well-funded, and structured network, bringing together NGOs, government, academia, industry, entrepreneurs and students, all working in collaboration to solve national and global challenges.

Countries that have built strong, sustainable innovation ecosystems are already seeing the benefits, expanding economies, diversifying industries, and creating high-paying careers. But beyond the numbers, what really defines these ecosystems is the mindset they cultivate in learners.

In a thriving innovation environment, students aren’t afraid to fail; they embrace risk, learn from setbacks, and push forward with resilience. They are supported by educators and mentors who understand that failure is just a step toward success. They engage in project-based learning and collaborate, knowing that each child brings unique talents to the table. A truly innovative society doesn’t force every learner into the same mold, it empowers them to contribute their best, in the ways they are best equipped to do so.

That’s the kind of innovation ecosystem we need to build. One that unlocks the full potential of every learner, fuels problem-solving across industries, and positions Guyana as a leader in global innovation.  Take Singapore, for example. In the 1960s, it was a small, resource-poor country with few advantages. But through strategic investment in education, research, and entrepreneurship, it transformed into a global technology and finance powerhouse (Mahbubani, 2020). South Korea followed a similar path, funding research institutions and fostering close collaborations between academia and industry. Today, companies like Samsung and Hyundai drive its economy, but this success was built on decades of government-backed innovation programs (Lee & Malerba, 2017).

Guyana has the resources to do the same. We are an oil-rich nation, but our future cannot be dependent on a finite resource. Innovation is our path to economic diversification, allowing us to build a knowledge-based economy that extends beyond petroleum. Agritech can revolutionize farming, AI can streamline court processes, biotech can advance healthcare, and robotics can transform mining. Every sector needs innovation, and our government must act as an enabler, not a gatekeeper, of progress.

One of the most effective ways to build an innovation ecosystem is through a National Science Foundation (NSF)-like entity, similar to the one in the United States. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has funded groundbreaking research that has led to technologies like the internet, artificial intelligence, and medical breakthroughs (Mowery, 2010). This kind of national support creates a fertile ground for innovation, enabling entrepreneurs, universities, and scientists to bring their ideas to life.

Guyana should establish its own National Innovation & Science Fund (NISF), tasked with, funding research & development projects in key sectors, providing substantial grants to university professors, young innovators and startups, creating partnerships between universities, businesses, and government and supporting independent tech incubation hubs where entrepreneurs can build solutions.

This fund should be open to all Guyanese, regardless of background, location, or political affiliation. Genius is everywhere, but opportunity is not. By ensuring that innovation funding reaches the most promising minds, we unleash the full potential of our people, build a powerful and effective eco-system and a rapidly expanding economy which will raise the standard of living for all Guyanese.

For Guyana to innovate in 21st-century industries, we must optimally educate our children to excel in every field. Innovation thrives on a strong education system, one that teaches critical thinking, problem-solving, and advanced technology skills. This means investing in STEM education from an early age, expanding access to AI, robotics, and design thinking programs, partnering with global institutions for knowledge exchange and supporting the talent we have right here at home.

While an education program rooted in innovation prepares students for well paying jobs, its real value is in empowering a nation’s youth to create jobs. By teaching young people to innovate, we equip them to become entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and problem solvers, shaping the future rather than merely adapting to it.

As Guyana stands at the threshold of a new economic era, the choices we make today will determine our nation’s trajectory for generations to come. Oil will not last forever, but a thriving innovation ecosystem can provide long-term sustainability, economic diversification, and lasting prosperity. We must commit to building a nation where brilliant minds are supported, groundbreaking ideas are nurtured, and every Guyanese child has access to the tools needed to lead in the industries of tomorrow.

(Let Innovation Be Our Clarion Call for Guyana’s Future)

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