More than 300 participants — including Jamaican educators, researchers, policymakers, and international innovators — gathered at the Innovation with and for a Purpose (IP) Summit 2026 to explore how emerging technologies can drive purposeful innovation across healthcare, education, tourism, sustainability, and national development.

The inaugural Summit hosted by The Mico University College in collaboration with The Media and Innovation Lab at the University of Miami, concluded with the unveiling of a bold roadmap to transform Jamaica’s innovation landscape, including plans to launch educator-focused AI training programmes, establish an innovation incubator, and create new pathways for homegrown education technology ventures.

Keynote addresses were delivered by Dr. David Rhew, Global Chief Medical Officer at Microsoft; Mr. Evan Thompson, Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica; Dr. Brent Anders, American University of Armenia; Dr. Parris Lyew‑Ayee Jr., Managing Director of PAMAS Consulting; Ms. Celina Lee, CEO of Zindi; Professor Collins Airhihenbuwa, Georgia State University; and Dr. Rada Mihalcea, Director of the Michigan AI Lab.

Among the major outcomes of the summit was the advancement of the Media and Innovation Lab Education Universe (MILEU), an initiative that will support educator training, innovation research, and the integration of emerging technologies across the workforce. The summit also highlighted plans for the Global Hub for Innovation, Ventures and Entrepreneurship (GHIVE), which will serve as an incubator designed to help educators, students, and entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into scalable products and commercially viable businesses.

President of The Mico University College, Dr. Asburn Pinnock, said the initiatives reflect a broader vision to position Jamaica as a producer of innovation rather than simply a consumer of technology. “We have proven time and again that Jamaicans can compete with the best in the world. There is no reason Jamaica cannot become a leader in artificial intelligence and innovation. To do that, we must move beyond being consumers of technology and become creators, producers, and innovators whose voices are represented in the global conversation,” he said.

Founding Director of The Media and Innovation Lab at the University of Miami, Dr. Azizi Seixas, said the summit was designed to move beyond dialogue and create a framework for sustained action. “We are not interested in simply having conversations about innovation. Our goal is to create systems that help transform ideas into products, products into businesses, and businesses into solutions that can positively impact Jamaica and the wider world,” he said.

Seixas revealed that several primary and secondary schools have already been identified for pilot programmes over the next 12 months. The initiatives will focus on artificial intelligence literacy, teacher training, and empowering educators to become innovators capable of developing practical solutions within their schools and communities.

“Educators interact with every sector of society. If we are serious about creating meaningful change, we must invest in teachers and give them the tools, resources, and opportunities to develop solutions that address real-world challenges,”he added.

Organisers say the summit marks the beginning of a long-term effort to build a national innovation ecosystem that connects education, entrepreneurship, research, and investment, while ensuring Jamaica is positioned to lead in an increasingly technology-driven world.

The Innovation with and for a Purpose (IP) Summit was held May 26–27, 2026, at Ocean Coral Spring Resort in Trelawny.