One of ninety – one Global Accelerator Labs supporting 115 countries, the Accelerator Lab in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean is encouraging a culture of innovation and learning in key sectors of the Blue Economy such as fisheries, tourism, marine conservation, renewable energy and waste management. Through the use of new and diverse data sources and innovation methods such as sense-making, horizon scanning, collective intelligence, co-creation, prototyping, pilots, artificial intelligence, foresight and behavioural insights, the Lab is being informed by grassroots communities to better marry the old and the new to create a better balance - for people and for planet.  

As a part of UNDP’s drive to be an incubator for the future, the Lab is contributing to accelerating progress towards the 2030 Agenda under an Orange Inspired Blue Economy for Green Islands approach.  

By celebrating grassroots innovations that move us towards a more sustainable planet, the Lab has been able to tap into signals, trends and emerging insights for accelerated learning. As the team continues to explore alternative blue futures – whether the connection between informality and digitalization in the blue economy, or the role of emerging blue trends such as robotics, digital twin oceans, Web3 and NFTs, the Lab is being driven by a Research & Development (R & D) mindset.  

Exploring, engaging and embedding innovation within our office, government and other partners is key as we work towards grassroots solutions for change and impact.