NIHERST’s role in the promotion of Science and Technology has come into sharper focus with the departure of its colleges of Higher Education to COSTAATT and the incorporation of the functions of its accreditation department, CORD into the independent national entity, the Accreditation Commission of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT).

This role comes at a timely juncture as government begins to position Trinidad and Tobago to attain developed country status by 2020 through a reduction in poverty, enhancements in the quality of life of citizens, and the creation of a knowledge-based economy fuelled by globally competitive industries. Underpinning this goal is the development of high level capacity in the production, adaptation, transfer and active utilisation of knowledge – in short Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

In the Government’s Vision 2020 for achievement of developed nation status, the plan for the initial period 2002-2007 includes an important synergistic thrust to make Education and Science and Technology (S&T) more relevant and accessible in an effort to improve and increase the nation’s human resource capability in STI.

This new thrust falls directly in line with the work that has been undertaken by NIHERST in STI and science popularisation.

What's On

Developing ‘Vision 2020’ oriented businesses using advanced foresighting tools and processes

Over the period March 2006 to January 2007, five sector foresight projects were completed in Trinidad and Tobago. One key objective was to use the foresighting process as a tool to identify opportunities in the Biotechnology, Tourism, Food & Beverage, Creative, and Niche Manufacturing sectors that had long-term growth potential in global niche markets and for which Trinidad and Tobago >>>

Generation Y & Vision 2020: Harnessing the Potential

With six years of experience in innovation and invention, and in the wake of the government’s adoption of the Vision 2020 development strategy, NIHERST has taken a bold step forward, advancing initiatives for developing an innovative population using a foresight study on Generation Y. Generation Y is the 14-28 age group that will comprise a critical component of our society and labour force in 2020 >>>

Climate Knowledgebase Launches in cooperation with UN

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in collaboration with the United Nations Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) and the UN Communications Group (UNCG) Task Force on Climate Change, has launched a new tool for climate change policymakers. CLIMATE-L.ORG is a knowledge management project that provides news and information to decision makers on the actions of international organizations in responding to climate change >>>

Regional Policy Framework for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)

The Caribbean Council for Science and Technology (CCST) has prepared for the consideration of the leaders of the Caribbean a Regional Policy Framework for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), which attempts to specifically guide the region’s policy and decision-makers on building STI capacity to meet the pressing new demands >>>

Success Stories

NIHERST is very pleased to present this publication, ‘Business and Innovation: Success Stories from Trinidad and Tobago’. This book is one of several outputs of a wider NIHERST initiative – the “Foresight, Growth and Innovation Project, which was launched at the end of 2005 >>>