Eighth edition of Demand Solutions took place during Annual Meeting of IDB Group in Asuncion, Paraguay
ASUNCION, Paraguay – The Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Annual Meeting opened today in Asuncion with Demand Solutions, an event on innovation and creative entrepreneurship that stressed the vital role of women in the economic development of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Demand Solutions heard the experiences of 17 talented, creative women entrepreneurs from around the world, plus three entrepreneurs from Latin America. They shared their experiences on how they are improving lives with an audience of local and international entrepreneurs, representatives from the public and private sectors, artists, creative professionals, undergraduate students, and representatives from the IDB and the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) who converged in Asuncion for the Annual Meeting of these two institutions.
“In this highly competitive world it is paramount to go the extra mile and offer something more, like creativity, which is the trigger to innovation,” IBD President Luis Alberto Moreno said. “We want to see more women in the region like those we saw here today, at the cutting edge of science, technology and arts.”
The participants in this edition of Demand Solutions came from Canada, Argentina, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Colombia.
Canada’s representative, Miranda Wang, has discovered bacteria that can decompose plastic and which could help clean our oceans.
Argentina had two outstanding participants: Victoria Flexer, a scientist at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council who heads a team that is seeking to improve the extraction of lithium and develop high-performance batteries in the northern province of Jujuy; and Victoria Viel Temperley, founder of the Donde Quiero Estar Foundation, who explained how she managed to resignify her own personal pain and transform cancer hospitals in places full of hope, music, art, reflexology and virtual reality glasses.
Another social entrepreneur, Monica Araya from Costa Rica, founder of Costa Rica Limpia, is one of the 76 scientists from around the world who took part in a women-only expedition to Antarctica to study climate change, foster women’s participation in science, and add her voice to the global debate on a sustainable future.
Paraguay participated in a number of different areas: from creative industries, with visual artist Claudia Casarino and singer Jazmin Sanabria; to industrial design with the creation of the first single-person electric car by Natalia Bobadilla Rolon; to code programming classes for children through workshops and games by Leticia Romero and Gary Servin; and the creation of an app to help people with eye-muscle conditions by Gabriela Galilea.
Brazil’s representatives were: Duilia F. de Mello, an astronomer whose presence reminded us of the importance of women’s presence in STEM activities; Gustavo Maia, creator of an app that helps communities detect and eradicate Zika; Carla Zeltzer, who developed an app that helps children create their own online games; and Alex Angelini, founder of a TV musical show that uses music to stimulate children’s neurological development.
Carla Fernández Tena, a textile designer from Mexico, showed the audience how her unique and innovative fashion creations help preserve the cultural heritage of indigenous women in her country. Another participant from Mexico, Catalina N’haux, has designed software and hardware to monitor and maintain medical slife-support equipment in hospitals.
Peru was represented by Katia Cánepa, a young engineer who helps us imagine a new form of interaction where there are no limits between wearable technology and our own body.
For her part, Colombia’s participant, Ilana Milkes, stressed the importance of turning our children from technology consumers to technology creators.
Demand Solutions does not end here in Paraguay. You are all invited to join the IDB’S creative entrepreneurs community and keep up with upcoming events in other countries.
About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.
About the IIC
The Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), is a multilateral development bank committed to supporting the private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IIC finances sustainable enterprises and projects to achieve financial results that maximize social and environmental development for the region. With a current portfolio of $11 billion under management and 350 clients in 21 countries, the IIC works across sectors to provide innovative financial solutions and advisory services that meet the evolving demands of its clients.