Uruguay made its debut at WebSummit Vancouver and is positioning itself as a Latin American technology hub

For the first time, Uruguay participated in WebSummit Vancouver, a leading technology event in the region. Through a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Canadian Embassy in Uruguay, the investment, export, and country image promotion agency Uruguay XXI, and the Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technology, a delegation of 15 companies participated in the first edition of this event.

Innovation and Investment Insider Tours

The week began with an initiative led by InvestVancouver, Innovation, and Investment Insider Tours. The delegation had the opportunity to participate in guided tours of leading companies in clean technologies, life sciences, and creative industries, receiving a first-hand look at Vancouver’s innovation ecosystem.

Before the tours, in the panel “Built Here, Scaling Globally,” executives from companies such as Connex, Svante, Clio, Fujitsu Intelligence, and Invest Vancouver shared strategies on how to scale technological solutions from local markets to the global stage, providing valuable lessons applicable to the development of the Uruguayan ecosystem.

Meeting with Canadian authorities

The institutional agenda included a meeting with British Columbia’s Minister of Labor, Economic Development, and Innovation, Diana Gibson, which addressed issues such as the trade balance, sectors with growth potential, and cooperation mechanisms. The presence of Ambassador Gustavo Álvarez, Consul General Leonardo Olivera, Honorary Consul in Vancouver Rick Brar, and representatives of Uruguay XXI helped position the country as a reliable partner with a mature ecosystem in areas such as technology, global services, and sustainability.

Uruguay as a hub of innovation in Latin America

One of the most significant moments was participating in the “Canada—South America Innovation” session, organized by the Canadian Embassy in Uruguay. In this session, Uruguay was presented as the number one business and innovation hub in Latin America. The presentation of the Uruguayan technological ecosystem sparked interest due to its institutional strength, skilled human capital, connectivity, and business-friendly environment.

WebSummit Vancouver

Participation in WebSummit Vancouver was in line with Uruguay XXI’s strategy for the technology sector, which promotes the country as the number one hub for business and innovation in the region and provides an opportunity for local companies seeking to learn about trends and expand their business. Since 2019, Uruguay has participated in technology events in Canada, according to data from the Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technology (CUTI), our fourth-largest trading partner in technology services exports.

At WebSummit Vancouver, Uruguay reaffirmed its position as a key player in the global technology ecosystem. Over five days, the delegation connected with global innovation leaders, investors, cutting-edge technology companies, and British Columbia state government officials, exploring opportunities to deepen bilateral collaboration and promote the country as a technology hub in Latin America.