Ciudad del Saber launches innovation observatory in Panama

IASP member Ciudad del Saber has launched an Innovation Observatory designed to turn data, research and evidence into collaborative projects and initiatives supporting economic and social development in Panama.

By bringing together stakeholders from innovation and entrepreneurship, academia, the public and private sectors, and international cooperation, the Observatory will focus on making better use of information, evidence and research to identify opportunities, develop collaborations and support projects addressing national challenges. Designed as a mechanism for connecting knowledge with practical action , the observatory is built around a continuous cycle of gathering evidence and analysing trends, disseminating findings across the community, to better connect organisations that can contribute expertise, resources and experience, monitoring results to feed learning back into the next cycle.

The launch brought together researchers, specialists, partner organisations, and leaders from different parts of Panama's innovation ecosystem. These connections are intended to support collaborative projects and mobilise resources, with monitored and evaluated results to generate new learning and process back into the next cycle of analysis and actions.

A key feature of the launch was the presentation of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report GEM Panama: 15 years monitoring entrepreneurship, which offers a historical analysis of the evolution of Panama's entrepreneurial ecosystem, emerging trends, and opportunities to strengthen innovation and business growth in the years ahead.

As a next step, Ciudad del Saber will establish a consultative committee to further strengthen the Observatory's work and help guide its development. The approach and its emphasis on using data to inform action  highlights the role that science and technology parks, innovation districts, incubators and other areas of innovation can play in bringing the gap between knowledge generation and practical application, to create meaningful impact for local and global communities.