Panama Strengthens Bioeconomy Through New Strategic Think Tank. The Institute for Scientific Research and High Technology Services (INDICASAT AIP) has been officially designated as the new Center for Thought in Biotechnology and Bioinnovation. The goal is to strengthen a knowledge-based economy and translate Panama's natural potential into responsible and efficient bio-innovation processes. As a Center for Thought, the institute will be responsible for developing technical documents and policy briefs to guide the construction of public policies based on scientific evidence. To foster this vision, a citizen participation program will be launched, including an international public competition for ideas in biotechnology. This initiative is aligned with the National Strategic Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation (PENCYT), which identifies the bioeconomy as one of the key engines for Panama's economic transformation. This appointment, framed in a national call, seeks to position the bioeconomy as a fundamental pillar for sustainable development, health, and Panama's competitiveness. The center will serve as a bridge between science and public policy. This designation recognizes INDICASAT AIP's trajectory in critical areas such as biomedicine, biodiversity, and drug discovery. The institute's director, Timothy Thomson, explains in the third person that the main current challenge is to connect consolidated scientific capabilities with strategic decisions that drive the country's growth. Thomson emphasizes that biotechnology must be understood as a concrete tool for creating high-value jobs and environmental solutions. The center will also have the mission of promoting a modern regulatory framework that facilitates both public and private investment. Thomson also emphasizes that it is vital for citizens to perceive biodiversity not only as a protected natural heritage but as a strategic opportunity to generate wealth sustainably. With this step, the country seeks to diversify its productive matrix, positioning science and innovation as central axes of national development and ensuring that scientific knowledge becomes a driver of social well-being.
