The 11th Americas Competitiveness Exchange on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ACE) will take place from Saturday, May 18, 2019, to Saturday, May 25, 2019, showcasing key Puerto Rican leading innovation and entrepreneurship assets.

The one-week program will showcase the economic assets of such cities as San Juan, Mayaguez, Ponce, Caguas, and Ceiba, and will focus on how Puerto Rico is leveraging their business innovation ecosystem to strengthen their high- technology industry clusters. Participants will tour projects located in 10 municipalities located throughout the island including universities, innovation centers, and regional development organizations, with a focus on advanced manufacturing, agribusiness production, financial technology, cybersecurity, aerospace, and more. Puerto Rico will also share emerging technologies and best practices linked to the sharing economy, renewable energy, medical tourism, smart cities, and the internet of things.  

The ACE is a flagship program designed to connect decision makers from the Americas and beyond to secure international and regional partnerships, increase trade and investment, and strengthen hemispheric innovation and competitiveness by building on ideas and models that work to create jobs.  ACE is considered a “high level” (ministerial-executive level) engagement event for US United States Government (USG) activities.

Target participants are decision-makers including Ministers/Vice Ministers, private sector leaders, local officials from cities or provinces, university leaders, senior regional development leaders, and leaders of small and medium enterprise (SME) initiatives and innovation agencies, etc.

The 11th ACE is convened by the Organization of American States (OAS) as the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (RIAC) Technical Secretariat; the Government of the United States, through the US Department of Commerce (Economic Development Administration and International Trade Administration); the US Department of State; and the Government of Argentina, through its Ministry of Production, as Chair Pro Tempore of RIAC (September 2017-2019).

Kindly note that selected participants will be responsible for covering the cost of their air ticket, hotel accommodations, and incidentals. Please remember to fill out ALL fields of this application form in English and submit the application by March 11, 2019. Early applications are encouraged. The ACE Committee reserves the right to request additional information from applicants during the selection process.