The National Secretariat for Science, Technology, and Innovation (Senacyt) of Panama conducted an official mission in Madrid, Spain, on March 5 and 6, 2026, with the aim of strengthening bilateral scientific and technological cooperation. The delegation toured the Leganés Science and Technology Park and met with members of the Artificial Intelligence Cluster to exchange experiences on developing innovation ecosystems and knowledge transfer. Dr. Ortega Barría stated that reinforcing these international alliances is vital to accelerate the building of technological capabilities in Panama. The head of Senacyt emphasized that the country seeks to actively collaborate with partners like Spain to contribute to scientific development in Spanish-speaking Central America and the Caribbean. This mission is part of Senacyt's internationalization strategy, aimed at positioning Panama as a regional node for innovation and scientific cooperation, promoting agreements that strengthen both national capacities and regional integration in science and technology. The Panamanian delegation was led by Senacyt's National Secretary, Dr. Eduardo Ortega Barría, accompanied by Ing. Franklin Morales, head of international technical cooperation. During the visit, high-level meetings were held with key figures in the Spanish scientific community, including Dr. Eva Ortega-Paíno, Secretary General for Research of Spain's Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities; Dr. Eloísa Del Pino, President of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC); and Dr. Antón Leis, Director of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). The agenda also included a visit to the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), where Rector Dr. Óscar García Suárez and cooperation authorities explored joint opportunities in semiconductors, advanced agricultural technologies, and artificial intelligence. A key highlight of the mission was the meeting with the Center for Innovation in Entrepreneurship and Artificial Intelligence (C3N-IA), linked to Carlos III University of Madrid.
