From artificial intelligence to energy poverty, universities and researchers from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in Santo Domingo to address a critical question: How can scientific knowledge be translated into better lives for people?
In a rural community in Latin America and the Caribbean, access to energy can determine whether a student is able to continue studying after nightfall. Thousands of kilometres away, in a research centre, an artificial intelligence algorithm can help forecast electricity demand and improve grid operations. These are different realities, yet they raise the same fundamental question: What is the value of technological progress if its benefits fail to reach those who need them most?
This question was at the heart of “Connecting Minds, Energising the Future,” an academic forum organised by the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), in partnership with the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) and Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU). Held on 2 October in Santo Domingo as part of the 11th Energy Week programme, the event brought together universities, researchers, students and experts to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and the real-world challenges facing the energy sector. Now in its second edition, the initiative was held in the Caribbean for the first time.
Latin America and the Caribbean possess strategic resources that position the region to play a significant role in the global energy transformation. Yet access to these resources alone does not guarantee development, competitiveness or well-being. The challenge lies in turning this potential into tangible opportunities for local communities. Discussions throughout the event ranged from energy poverty and community-based solutions to climate resilience, artificial intelligence, energy efficiency and the training of the next generation of professionals. Andrés Rebolledo Smitmans, Executive Secretary of OLACDE, emphasised the need to bring academia and the private sector into a dialogue that has traditionally been dominated by governments.
The discussions also extended across the Pacific. In his closing keynote address, South Korean academic Kim Younkyoo highlighted that energy security no longer depends solely on the production and trade of fuels. Supply chains, critical minerals, electricity grids and digital technologies are increasingly connecting geographically distant regions. His remarks underscored a central message: the energy transition is not simply about moving faster, but about making decisions that secure today’s energy supply without compromising tomorrow’s opportunities.
Perhaps the most significant message, however, came at the close of the event. Gloria Alvarenga, Director of Energy Integration, Access and Security at OLACDE, stressed that the forum’s true impact would not be measured solely by the quality of its presentations, but by the research collaborations it inspires, the projects it helps generate, the decisions informed by stronger evidence and the opportunities it creates for students. In this context, she highlighted plans to work with strategic partners to establish an energy poverty observatory, alongside the importance of strengthening cooperation among universities across the region.
A just energy transition, after all, neither begins nor ends at a power plant, a transmission network or a digital innovation. It also takes shape in classrooms, laboratories and communities, where knowledge can be transformed into practical solutions to real needs. Following its inaugural edition in Chile and its continuation in the Dominican Republic, “Connecting Minds, Energising the Future” reaffirms a fundamental conviction: the energy future of Latin America and the Caribbean depends not only on the resources the region possesses, but also on its ability to connect knowledge with people.
