Participating in the Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) next edition in Panamá promises to be a transformative opportunity for me as the Program Director of Fase1, a business incubation program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust, established in 2021 to support early-stage entrepreneurs to help transform innovative ideas into successful startups. The potential benefits of this experience are manifold and directly aligned with our mission of continuously fostering economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurship on the island. By engaging myself in the ACE event, I will gain unparalleled access to a diverse network of global and regional stakeholders, setting the stage for forging meaningful partnerships that will propel our organization programs to new heights. Considering my economic development background by creating impactful results within the federal procurement, recovery, agricultural, and entrepreneurship & innovation sectors I anticipate I will also be contributing to other participants perspectives, practices, and experience. The ACE amazing agenda on enabling connections and collaborations and showcasing Panamá’s diverse top sites perfectly aligns with our organization’s goals. As I engage with fellow participants, government officials, industry leaders, and academia from across the Americas, I am eager to identify potential partners who share our passion for accelerating entrepreneurship and innovation. These connections will not only serve as a trigger for knowledge exchange but also as a means for multi-cultural collaborations for sustainable and transformational economic growth in Puerto Rico. Through in-depth conversations, interactive sessions, and top site visits, I also anticipate forming alliances that will enable us to leverage best practices, share resources, and collectively work towards enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our region. Furthermore, the ACE event provides a unique platform for identifying experts and speakers from the ACE community who can offer valuable insights and guidance to our programs. By tapping into this reservoir of knowledge, I will be able to expand my network and enrich our programs’ offerings, ensuring that the entrepreneurs and communities we support receive access to world-class mentorship and guidance. The ACE event’s inclusive environment fosters an atmosphere of knowledge-sharing and collaboration, making it the ideal arena to identify thought leaders who can contribute their expertise to our initiatives and industry events. Whether it’s through mentorship, workshops, or advisory roles, these experts have the potential to elevate our programs’ impact and empower Puerto Rican entrepreneurs to thrive on a global scale. In conclusion, my participation in the ACE event in Panamá holds the promise of catalyzing our business entrepreneurship programs success in Puerto Rico. By learning from a leading county with a remarkable economic growth in the last decades, establishing connections, fostering partnerships, identifying experts, and engaging with the ACE community, I aim to drive new transformational economic development initiatives, nurture innovation, and empower entrepreneurs. This experience will not only amplify our multi-sector programs’ reach but also position us at the forefront of a dynamic network dedicated to shaping the future of entrepreneurship and innovation in the Americas and beyond. Some of my colleagues have participated in previous ACE editions and I have witnessed the impact of their knowledge and connections growth within the international economic sector. I appreciate the ACE team’s consideration of my application to attend and participate in this one-of-a-kind opportunity to keep moving forward Puerto Rico’s economic agenda. I will be thrilled and honored to be selected to participate in the next ACE edition in Panamá.