The Universities of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten have officially announced a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and driving innovation across their respective communities. This significant partnership is bolstered by a €150,000 grant provided by the Representation of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.
Kingdom Startup Program Established
At the core of this collaboration is the establishment of the Kingdom Startup Program. This program will feature dedicated innovation hubs in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, designed to serve as cornerstones for sustainable innovation ecosystems throughout the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The initiative seeks to strengthen the economic resilience of the islands, build local capacity, and reinforce innovation sectors, while also deepening collaboration within the Kingdom.
Through the Kingdom Startup Program, students, ambitious academic founders, and emerging changemakers will receive hands-on training in contemporary entrepreneurship and innovation methodologies. Participants are expected to work closely with governments, private-sector partners, and civil-society organizations to co-create practical solutions to pressing social and economic challenges.
Pilot Project and Future Plans
The pilot implementation of the program is scheduled to commence in Aruba during the summer of 2026. This initial phase will include participation from student delegations representing both Curaçao and Sint Maarten, laying the groundwork for the long-term integration of entrepreneurship education, knowledge exchange, and innovation capacity-building across the three islands. A final Demo Day is anticipated at all three hubs over the summer break of 2026, where participating teams will showcase their outcomes and share experiences.
The universities and their partners are set to finalize the program structure in early 2026, with the recruitment of student teams and mentors slated to begin in the spring semester. A public announcement event and visual campaign will follow to highlight the participating universities, partners, and opportunities for collaboration.
Official Statements Highlight Vision
Netherlands Representative Gerbert Kunst expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, 'After previously serving as Consul General in San Francisco (2016-2020), I'm keen to continue building on best practices from Silicon Valley. It's exciting that all three Universities in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom are open to deepening entrepreneurship education to foster the next generation of Caribbean startup success.'
A representative from the University of St. Martin (USM) emphasized the importance of collaboration, noting, 'As we seek to embrace the so-called Orange Economy, or the creative industries, the University of St. Martin recognises that only through collaboration with our Kingdom partners, can we establish a durable ecosystem for our local entrepreneurs. It has become evident that the universities are central to any project supporting innovation and socio-economic development for our islands.' The sentiment was further echoed by another statement, 'By connecting these three universities, (aspiring) entrepreneurs, and strengthening ecosystems, we're turning the Caribbean part of the Kingdom into a launchpad for innovation that is rooted locally yet globally connected.'
5 Comments
Michelangelo
It's encouraging to see regional universities collaborating, but the grant amount seems quite modest for establishing innovation hubs across three distinct islands. I hope more funding is secured.
Leonardo
Skeptical. These initiatives often promise much but deliver little real, long-term impact for locals.
Michelangelo
Finally, some real investment in our region's future! This collaboration is a game-changer.
Donatello
Embracing the Orange Economy is forward-thinking, but the success of these creative industries will depend heavily on robust intellectual property protections and consistent government support, which aren't fully detailed here.
Michelangelo
Another 'startup program' that sounds good on paper but will likely get bogged down in bureaucracy.