The Dominican Republic has signed an agreement with NVIDIA to create an artificial intelligence center of excellence aimed at advancing national digital transformation and regional leadership in artificial intelligence. The initiative is part of the country’s National AI Strategy and represents the first AI hub in Central America and the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs said Wednesday.
Commenting about the partnership, Calista Redmond, NVIDIA’s vice president of AI nations, noted the transformative power of AI and the collaboration’s focus on education and industrial innovation.
What Does the Agreement Include?
Under the memorandum of understanding, the Dominican government and NVIDIA will collaborate on AI education, research and infrastructure development. The Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence will bring together the public and private sectors with academic institutions to develop and test technologies designed for government and industry applications.
The signing took place at the National Palace in Santo Domingo. Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said the center will position the country as a technology creator rather than a consumer and serve as a meeting point for innovation across multiple sectors.
What Are the Core Goals of the CEIA?
According to the government’s announcement, the program will focus on:
- Training more than 1,000 professionals by 2026 through the AI Academy, operated with NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Institute.
- Building a National AI Factory to strengthen data sovereignty and local AI infrastructure.
- Promoting AI applications in healthcare, education, mobility, public safety, tourism and finance.
The initiative complements the country’s National Semiconductor Strategy and broader efforts to modernize industrial and technological systems. Victor Bisono, the minister of industry, commerce and MSMEs, said the partnership is intended to use AI as a catalyst for greater industrial efficiency and competitiveness.