CE 2025 Annual Results Report web

DIGITAL HORIZONS:

UNLOCKING INNOVATION, INCLUSION AND COMPETITIVENESS

A dedicated Startup Clinic connected Dominican innovators with corporate opportunities in Latin America and Europe, while also engaging Dominican corporates to formulate and publish their own innovation challenges on the EU-LAC platform. This dual engagement strengthened both sides of the open innovation marketplace, positioning startups as solution providers and corporates as active challenge owners. B2Match Platform Outcomes Caribbean Export’s efforts in outreach, missions, and virtual programming resulted in significant growth within the EU‑LAC matchmaking platform ecosystem in 2025. Increased participation strengthened the foundation for meaningful corporate– startup matches and future business cases. Active Corporate Challenges These combined efforts translated into measurable programme results. In 2025, Caribbean stakeholders accounted for close to 10 percent of all new partnerships launched across the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator. Five formal partnerships were concluded involving startups and corporates from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic, demonstrating that the Caribbean is increasingly operating as an active node within the EU-LAC open innovation system rather than simply as a participant. Overall, Caribbean Export’s implementation in 2025 contributed to: • strengthened regional engagement in open innovation; • increased visibility and uptake of EU‑LAC Digital Accelerator opportunities; • deeper collaboration with business support organizations and national partners; and • continued development of cross-regional corporate–startup digital partnerships.

2025 Platform Growth

new corporates from the Caribbean joined the B2Match platform. 19 new startups and SMEs were onboarded into the innovation ecosystem. 128

additional stakeholders (including BSOs, innovation hubs, and ecosystem partners) registered to engage in the Accelerator’s activities. 20 This expanded participation enhances the range of accessible

challenges, solutions, and cross‑regional collaboration opportunities for Caribbean innovators.

36 | CARIBBEAN EXPORT ANNUAL RESULTS REPORT 2025