The Caribbean Innovation Leaders Academy is a six-month interdisciplinary leadership and innovation programme funded through the U.S. Embassy Kingston’s Freedom 250 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. Led by The University of the West Indies, Mona, the initiative marks the 250th anniversary of the United States by investing in the people who will help shape the future of the U.S.–Jamaica partnership through education, collaboration and innovation.
The programme will support 50 emerging Caribbean STEM leaders—including university graduates and outstanding undergraduate students—through leadership development, training in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, project management and science communication. Participants will receive mentorship from Jamaican and U.S. experts and work in multidisciplinary teams to develop technology-enabled solutions to challenges affecting Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
Through the Caribbean Innovation Challenge, participants will develop and present prototype concepts addressing regional priorities. Selected teams will receive seed funding to support early-stage prototype development, with their work culminating in a Caribbean Innovation Showcase.
Beyond the programme, fellows will contribute to outreach in their universities and communities, sharing their skills and ideas while building a lasting network of emerging innovators. By strengthening professional relationships between Jamaica, the wider Caribbean and the United States, the Caribbean Innovation Leaders Academy aims to foster practical innovation, collaborative leadership and enduring people-to-people partnerships.
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