Innovation in Motion: The UWI and T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce Forge Path Toward Collaborative Development
August 5th, 2025 | Related To: The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
In a move that signals a new era of collaboration between academia and the private sector, the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (T&T Chamber) and the Department of Behavioural Sciences, of The University of the West Indies (The UWI-St. Augustine Campus), have signed a Research and Innovation Partnership Agreement. This landmark accord aims to strengthen national development through joint research, structured knowledge exchange and innovation.
The recent signing in late June represents a strategic step toward deepening alignment between the academic community and the business sector—two drivers of innovation that have historically worked in parallel, but not always in tandem. The agreement is designed to close that gap between academia and business by fostering purposeful university-industry collaboration, moving from co-designed research to enterprise development.
“This agreement is a progressive and timely step forward,” said Ms. Sonji Pierre-Chase, President of the T&T Chamber. “The gap between academic research and business application has often hindered innovation. This partnership reflects our shared belief that we must work hand-in-hand to develop homegrown solutions that are both research-informed and commercially viable. Our business community is rich with opportunity—but unlocking that potential requires the kind of insights and talent that reside within our universities.”
The agreement establishes a framework for long-term cooperation in several key areas, including applied research, commercialization of academic findings, innovation incubation, technical training, and student-industry engagement. It also emphasizes the importance of evidence-based policymaking and enterprise competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Principal of The UWI St. Augustine Campus, remarked: “Research and innovation both play a critical role in our sustainability and success, and by extension, the genuine development of our region. Yet, here can be no innovation without research. In this regard, research partnerships that bolster innovation are especially essential as we navigate the many rapidly changing global issues that confront us. This MOU represents yet another instance of The UWI, St Augustine Campus fulfilling its mandate to further the country’s development in collaboration with industry partners as we take the lead on national development issues. We are proud of our continued partnerships with the private sector and look forward to collaborating in areas that have a significant impact on our national development goals, including economic development, crime and justice reform, and sustainability.”
The partnership is expected to unlock new opportunities for cross-sector innovation, empower students through experiential learning, and foster a culture of co-creation that is essential for sustainable economic growth.
This Research and Innovation Partnership Agreement stands as a bold statement of intent: that the future of Trinidad and Tobago must be built on the foundation of collaboration—where academic insight and entrepreneurial action work hand-in-hand to shape a smarter, more resilient, and globally competitive nation.
