Gov’t Strengthening STI To Drive Development

Government is strengthening the country’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) ecosystem as part of the process of building a knowledge-based economy.

The objective is to turn local research and creativity into market-ready commercial success that can drive development.

“The next phase of Jamaica’s development must be driven by not only what we produce but increasingly by what we know, what we create and what we can commercialise,” said Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley.

“We are advancing the policy and the institutional frameworks needed to ensure that science and technology are better integrated across government and align with our national development priorities… . Our vision is one in which research informs policies, technology strengthens productivity, and innovation becomes a driver of inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” he added.

He was addressing the launch of Science and Technology Month 2026 at Jamaica House in St. Andrew on Monday (November 2).

Dr. Wheatley said it is the countries that have invested in science and technology, that are now at the forefront of development, noting that Jamaica needs to follow suit.

“Oftentimes, we find ourselves as the consumers of these technologies, these developments that we see are taking place all over the world. We as Jamaicans and Jamaica must not be content to remain only a consumer of technologies, [especially] technologies that are developed elsewhere. We must become developers, producers, owners and exporters of knowledge-based solutions. This is how we really begin to build a truly knowledge-based ecosystem,” he stated.

He noted that the Government is advancing the policy and institutional frameworks needed to ensure that science and technology align with national development priorities, are better integrated across the public sector, and embedded in how the government develops policies, allocates resources, evaluates programmes and delivers results.

He said that science cannot remain a matter of personal interest or passion, noting that science and technology are essential instruments of national development.

“They determine how we produce our food, how we protect our environment, how we manage disease, how we prepare for disasters, how our businesses compete – not only locally but internationally as well – and ultimately, how our people live,” he pointed out.