Latin America is a resilient region undergoing dramatic change. Throughout the twenty-first century, the digital revolution has transformed social and political dynamics, empowered civil society, and challenged the status quo, encouraging innovations in the private, public and civil society.
The GULATAM 2016 Conference looked closely at various topics of interest, from social entrepreneurship, private sector role and innovative policy practices. The conference enabled networking opportunities and the exchange of ideas and experiences, offering fresh perspectives on regional trends, in three specific areas: financing innovation, social innovation, and policy innovation.
The conference kicked off with keynote speaker James Scriven, the CEO of the Inter-American Investment Corporation. Mr. Scriven highlighted the speed of change in our world, and how innovation is absolutely key to adapt to new times of growing middle class, urbanization and even climate change. The most important action we must take, Mr. Scriven defended, is to create a culture of innovation, rewarding risk-taking, and incentivizing innovative thinking. Nonetheless, he warns we should not encourage innovation for the sake of it, but that instead, it should always be a means to an end, such as development, alleviation of poverty, and disrupting gender gaps.
Arturo Valenzuela, former assistant secretary of state for Western Hemispheric Affairs and founder of the Center of Latin American Studies at Georgetown, spoke of political and economic changes throughout the region over the last several decades, dividing these trends in three parts: the good, the bad, and the ugly. He accentuated reduced state conflict and increased democracy in Latin America as strong positives. Mr. Valenzuela concluded his remarks stressing the political challenges of representation, accountability, governance, and the rule of law as critical to future growth and innovation in the region.
Following Valenzuela, three panels on financial, social, and political innovation took place. Jason Marczak, the Director of the Latin America Economic Growth Initiative at the Atlantic Council, moderated the financial innovation panel, which featured Ivonne Cuello, Gabriel España, and Norman Anderson.
Ms. Cuello, the Director of Business Development and Strategy at LAVCA, remarked on the challenges in finance for innovative projects, as they are contingent on the right opportunity, right scenario and right country. Furthermore, she defended that governments should improve their connections with universities, to take advantage of the knowledge and research to foster innovation in the public sector.
Mr. Anderson, president and CEO of CG/LA, stated how crucial the investment in infrastructures is at this moment in Latin America, although governments seem to be doing the exact opposite. He suggested governments should change their priorities, in addition to tackle the problem of accountability and corruption in the area, bringing more citizenship engagement to the process.
Mr. España is the principal investment officer at the Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services department at the International Finance Corporation. He defended how governments’ participation in funding investments will continuously decrease in the future. Nowadays, he sees some tendencies in Latin America that limit the options and scope of funding, especially by governments; nonetheless, there are new innovative trends appearing in the region which are challenging this regulatory bottleneck and changing the system of funding in countries.
The social innovation panel featured Nate Radomski, Brian MacNair, and Rodulfo Prieto.
Lastly, the policy innovation panel featured Cláudia Costin, the former secretary of education for the city of Rio de Janeiro, Colombian Representative Samuel Hoyos, and the Inter-American Development Bank Principal Technical Leader Juan Carlos Navarro. Common themes throughout the panel were the importance of education and investment not only as targets for innovation but as sources of innovation as well.
The final keynote speaker was Luis Almargo, the secretary general of the Organization of American States. Mr. Almargo concluded his remarks, and the conference, with the advice to future leaders in Latin America to serve as an example, to provide solutions, and to bring people together.
SCHEDULE
9:40 - 10:35 a.m. | Opening Keynote: Arturo Valenzuela, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs; James Scriven, CEO, Inter-American Investment Corporation
10:40 - 11:40 a.m. | Financing Innovation
- Ivonne Cuello, Director, Latin American Private Equity & Venture Capital Assoc.
- Gabriel Espana, Principal Investment Officer, IFC
- Norm Anderson, CEO, CG/LA Infrastructure
- Jason Marczak, Director, Latin America Economic Growth Initiative - Atlantic Council
11:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. | Social Innovation
- Margaret O’Bryon, Professor, Georgetown University
- Nate Radomski, Development Manager, USA Fe y Alegria
- Brian MacNair, Executive Director, World Central Kitchen
- Rodulfo Prieto, Co-founder and Director, Laboratoria
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Policy Innovation
- Jenny Guardado, Professor, Georgetown University
- Claudia Costin, Secretary of Education, Rio de Janeiro
- Juan Carlos Navarro, Principal Leader in Innovation, IDB
- Samuel Hoyos, Congressman, Colombia
- Juan Andrés Mejía, Congressman, Venezuela
3:25 - 4:15 p.m. | Closing Keynote: Luis Almagro, secretary general of OAS
This event was co-sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies, the Latin American Board, and the Latin America Initiative.