Analysis of an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Northern Haiti to Stimulate Innovation and Reduce Poverty

Abstract

In Northern Haiti, a unique experience has been developed and an innovation hub has been realised; the core of this is a City of Knowledge that is articulated around an entrepreneurial university, the Institute of Science, Technology and Graduate Studies of Haiti (ISTEAH). Spread over seven departments in the country, as its name suggests, ISTEAH is a technological university that seeks to put science and technology at the service of development by training citizens, leaders and innovators who can promote the advancement of the country. Resolutely turning towards entrepreneurship, this university is in the process of setting up an entire entrepreneurial ecosystem centred around an incubator-accelerator to create—with students, graduates and young people from around the country—technological and social enterprises to generate value, create wealth and jobs and support sustainable development. In this article, this experiment and its perspectives are analysed in light of the sustainable development goals.