DDEC promotes AI adoption in island’s business ecosystem
By The Star Staff
The Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) has joined with Ironhack, a leading global organization in technology education, to promote the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in Puerto Rico’s business ecosystem.
The alliance consists of educational events such as the program “AI Beyond the Hype: An Executive Educational Series for Strategic Transformation,” held in November, which brought together more than 30 senior executives from leading organizations in Puerto Rico in a session led by Chris Stegner and Alex Nucci, AI experts from Very Big Things in Miami. During the training, participants acquired essential tools to integrate AI into their business strategies. They explored topics such as organizational readiness for AI, creating a data-driven culture, and developing customized roadmaps to achieve business objectives.
The educational events are part of the DDEC’s 21st Century Techforce program, which seeks to ensure Puerto Rico is prepared to lead in the field of digital transformation.
“Our mission is to ensure that Puerto Rico is at the forefront in adopting advanced technologies,” DDEC Secretary Manuel Cidre said. “These initiatives represent a firm step toward the consolidation of our island as a center of innovation and technological excellence in the global market.”
María José Pérez Canals, the assistant secretary of strategic projects at DDEC and leader of the AI adoption effort, emphasized the importance of educational initiatives.
“21st Century Techforce is a strategic response to the global digital transformation,” she said. “Our collaboration with Ironhack and other key institutions ensures that our workforce is equipped to lead in this new technological landscape.”
She added that the project seeks to train 50,000 qualified workers in the next 10 years, closing the gap between the demand for digital jobs and the development of local talent.
