The Dominican Republic has partnered with NVIDIA to launch a groundbreaking Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (CEIA), marking a significant step in the nation’s digital transformation and positioning it as a leader in AI within Central America and the Caribbean. This strategic alliance, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, is a cornerstone of the Dominican Republic’s National AI Strategy (ENIA) and aims to foster technological sovereignty and innovation. The agreement signifies the country’s ambition to transition from a consumer of technology to a creator of it.
A Hub for AI Innovation and Education
The CEIA will serve as the first dedicated AI hub in the region, bringing together government, academia, and the private sector. A key objective is to cultivate local talent, with a commitment to train over 1,000 Dominican professionals in artificial intelligence by 2026 through an AI Academy, in collaboration with NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Institute. This initiative is crucial for building a skilled workforce capable of developing and maintaining advanced AI infrastructure.
Driving Digital Sovereignty and Sectoral Advancement
A central pillar of the partnership is the establishment of a National AI Factory. This facility is designed to ensure the country’s data sovereignty while providing the infrastructure necessary for the development of domestic AI applications. The collaboration will focus on promoting AI adoption across various critical sectors, including healthcare, education, mobility, public safety, finance, and tourism. This multi-sectoral approach underscores the comprehensive nature of the agreement and its potential to drive widespread digital transformation. The initiative also complements the Dominican Republic’s National Semiconductor Strategy, reflecting a broader commitment to technological modernization.
Regional Leadership and Future Outlook
President Luis Abinader has emphasized that the CEIA will be a laboratory for innovation, demonstrating the Dominican Republic’s capacity to create technology rather than merely consume it. This partnership aligns with broader international efforts by countries to achieve AI sovereignty and build robust domestic technological capabilities, reducing dependence on foreign cloud services. For NVIDIA, this collaboration strengthens its presence in emerging markets and showcases its platform as a foundational element for national digital transformation. The initiative is expected to position the Dominican Republic as a regional benchmark for innovation, attracting investment and fostering economic growth in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence and technology. This news is a significant development in the regional technology landscape.