The initiative was launched on the evening of Thursday, the 11th, at ORT, and was attended by Foreign Minister Omar Paganini, the Israeli Consul Aviner Fishhof, BSc, and the rector Universidad ORT Uruguay, Dr. Jorge Grünberg, along with other government officials, academics, and representatives from various business, entrepreneurial, and innovation sectors.
"Our vision is for Latin America to become a highly innovative region. We intend to do our part to help make that happen," said Mexican businessman Isaac Assa, founder of the Latin American Innovation Initiative (ILAN), who noted that Uruguay is the first country in South America where this organization has established a presence.
Mr. Long, president of LATU and the leader of this initiative in Uruguay, stated that "ILAN fills a gap related to the pool of talent our country is producing, but we can further expand its impact in the field of innovation."
He also paid a heartfelt and warm tribute to Prof. Charlotte S. de Grünberg, who served as ORT’s executive director from 1977 until February 2024, when she sadly passed away.
The organization will issue a call for entries at every Uruguayan university with the aim of recognizing the best projects and awarding them the ILAN Innovation Award. The prize consists of a one-week trip to Israel (all expenses paid) so that the entrepreneurs can learn about the country’s innovative ecosystem.
Assa explained that ILAN is a foundation that promotes innovation in Latin America in partnership with Israel—which he described as "the country of innovation"—and aims to improve people's lives.
ILAN will work closely with universities, LATU, and the national government, which is why ILAN’s founder held a meeting with the President of the Republic, Dr. Luis Lacalle Pou. “Our sole purpose,” Assa emphasized, “is to promote and strengthen innovation—not only in Uruguay but throughout our region—and to achieve that, all we have to do is join forces.”
Video highlights of the ILAN launch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGw--Lp-5H8
Interview with Isaac Assa
https://youtu.be/mYt8G1dXpmk