Panama Joins OAS Network of Centers of Excellence in Transformative Technologies

Panama has become the seventh country in the region to join the Organization of American States' (OAS) network of Centers of Excellence in Transformative Technologies. The Institute for Scientific Research and High Technology Services (Indicasat AIP) was officially designated a «Center of Excellence in Transformative Technologies». This event marks a historic moment for the country, elevating Panama to the ranks of other regional innovation leaders. During the designation ceremony, OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin congratulated the researchers at Indicasat AIP and highlighted the significance of this step for all of Panama. He noted that the network now includes seven countries: Mexico (blockchain), Colombia (robotics and artificial intelligence), Peru (advanced materials and nanomaterials), Chile (artificial intelligence), Argentina (transformative technologies and circular economy), Brazil (ocean technologies), and now Panama (biotechnology). Dr. Timothy Thomson, Director of Indicasat AIP, called the designation a significant institutional milestone. «This accreditation is the result of more than 20 years of sustained work and reflects the commitment, vision, and excellence of those who have built this institution from its inception,» he stated. In turn, Dr. Ortega Barría, National Secretary of the National Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation (Senacyt), emphasized that Indicasat is not just one of the oldest public interest associations, but a strategic platform for the country's scientific progress. He highlighted the institute's contribution to developing human capital and generating knowledge that has a real impact on health, biodiversity, biotechnology, and productive innovation. The agreement to join the network was signed on January 29, 2026, by OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin and Dr. Eduardo Ortega Barría, Director of Indicasat AIP. The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Guevara Mann and Panama's Ambassador to the OAS, Ana Irene Delgado. «Their contributions in biomedical research, biosciences, bioprospecting, bioinformatics, and technology transfer have strengthened our national capabilities and positioned the country as a reliable actor in global scientific networks,» the statement read.