Panama presents its Health Research and Innovation Cluster, boosting well-being and investment

The Health Cluster is part of the Panama Productiva III strategy (continuation of Panama Productiva I and II (2019-2022), a program that aims to contribute to the productive and sustainable development of the country by strengthening three strategic areas: health, fruits for export and logistics. The best vision of a cluster is that of teams working to achieve the objectives under review. It is dynamic, it does not run out and it has the possibility of reinventing itself.

Panama is moving towards this vision of the cluster in several of its productive and knowledge areas.

The most recent one was just presented this Wednesday, August 21: the Health Research and Innovation Cluster of Panama (CIISPA) , which is defined “as a competitive development model that has the support of CAF – development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean , the City of Knowledge Foundation (FCDS) and the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt), among other actors in the ecosystem that generates scientific knowledge in Panama” and with strategic allies: companies, unions and support entities, Government, centers, academia, clinics and hospitals.

The presentation of the Health Research and Innovation Cluster was articulated with the forum Research as a driver of investment in health in Panama , organized by the Vaccination and Research Center (Cevaxin), a meeting space that allowed to learn about progress, achievements and challenges to advance in this collaborative idea of the cluster.

Bringing together those who can make a difference in the area of health, with an emphasis on research, which is the path to better health, well-being and an innovative production model, brought visions closer together.

The Cluster as a concept, and the Cevaxin forum with ideas in development, are part of an agenda that Panama is already implementing.

What is the Health Research and Innovation Cluster ?

The project "is part of the renewed agenda of the CAF- Latin American development bank in the private sector, related to the support of initiatives that contribute to the economic reactivation of Latin American countries” and , in the case of Panama , to strengthen the productive development of SMEs, increase the productivity and competitiveness of the productive fabric.

The work is promoted by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ( ECLAC), through the Platform of Cluster Initiatives and Other Territorial Productive Articulation Initiatives.

The City of Knowledge Foundation (FCDS) is the promoter of the cluster initiative that has the cooperation of CAF - Latin American Development Bank and the support of public and private institutions such as the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI), Senacyt, companies, associations and institutions that in turn are integrated into the cluster.

The fruit cluster has already been formalized and has allowed producers, exporters and other strategic actors to find niches and opportunities.

Professor Jorge Arosemena, executive president of the City of Knowledge Foundation and who opened the day dedicated to the presentation of the Health Cluster, said that the cluster concept is in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 17: revitalize alliances for sustainable development. “When we come together and work as a team, for me that is the essence of a cluster: it is not just a list of institutions, companies, academics or researchers… they are teams working with objectives that we review. A cluster is dynamic, permanent and does not run out.”

Eysel A. Chong, knowledge management manager at FCDS, summarizes that the fundamental objective of the Health Cluster is “to make Panama a regional leader in conducting clinical research studies that allow access to vaccines, innovative medicines and medical devices that result in a better quality of life and boost the prosperity and wealth of the country.”