The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat received grant funding from the Inter-American Development Bank to support the development of the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS). A Study/Business Innovation Tour aimed at building capacity among renewable energy (RE) project developers, entrepreneurs and researchers in the promotion of technological innovation, and also at facilitating access to funding for RE research and development (R&D) project proposals under EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), was identified as an activity under the R&D component of C-SERMS Project.  

Candidates attending the Study Tour were given the opportunity to collaborate, develop partnerships and foster the exchange of ideas, technology transfer and know-how related to either a renewable energy technology or a new and innovative technology. Two signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) from the Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE) were presented to the CARICOM Secretariat and the University of Technology (UTECH), Jamaica, respectively. It is considered that the MoUs will pave the way for further collaboration and easy access to Horizon 2020.

Seven participants from Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago attended the Study Tour which was hosted in Rome, Italy during the period 09-17 March 2013.

While in Italy, the group attended several renewable energy lectures and met with over twelve companies including manufacturers, RE industry developers, researchers and representatives from APRE and Italy’s premier research centre, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA).