LAC Applied AI & Robotics Readiness Program Through Private Sector Engagement

preparation

Despite the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Cybersecurity to enhance productivity and competitiveness, firms in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) face persistent barriers to adoption. Many companies lack the technical capabilities to assess and implement these technologies, while fragmented innovation ecosystems limit effective collaboration among firms, universities, innovation hubs, and public institutions [1][2]. Strengthening applied technical capabilities and improving coordination across these actors are therefore essential for enabling firms to integrate these technologies into their competitive strategies. In this context, the main objective of this Technical Cooperation (TC) is to strengthen the capacity of the private sector in selected LAC countries to adopt and apply Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Cybersecurity in priority areas such as trade, exports, and innovation, while fostering stronger collaboration among universities, innovation hubs, industry actors, and public institutions to support the generation and diffusion of applied knowledge and practical solutions. To accomplish this, the TC will work on the following specific objectives: i) Promote greater integration and coordinated action among leading global universities, local academic institutions, innovation hubs, and public-sector counterparts in LAC to jointly design and deliver high-quality capacity-building initiatives in AI, Robotics, and Cybersecurity for the private sector. ii) Increase the technical and strategic capabilities of firms, exporters, and startups to assess, design, and implement practical AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity solutions that enhance productivity, innovation capacity, competitiveness, and participation in international markets. iii) Increase the capacity of local universities, training institutions, and innovation hubs in LAC to sustain the long-term dissemination of applied knowledge in AI, Robotics, and Cybersecurity, supporting continued technology adoption across the private sector. [1] https://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Artificial-Intelligence-Framework-for-the-Inter-American-Development-Group.pdf [2] https://unu.edu/merit/blog-post/innovation-age-ai-setting-policy-research-agenda-latin-america