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PR as a technology hub
National Research Lab Strengthens Puerto Rico’s Position as Technology Hub
Puerto Rico 5G Zone and PRBTA seek collaborative agreement
Zoe Landi Fontana, The Weekly Journal
In a recent proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Puerto Rico based 5G research network, Puerto Rico 5G Zone (PR5GZ), requested $160 million over 10 years to create a research hub based on supporting critical intelligent infrastructure in a collaborative agreement with the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association (PRBTA).
Research will be focused on the aerospace and new space industry, port management and disaster management, and medical technology and telemedicine – all areas where Puerto Rico already holds value, and where there is great opportunity to further develop the use of advanced technological applications.
“We envision partnerships with government, industry and academia to better understand the opportunities this enabling technology represents. The lab would be a place where innovation, development, testing and evaluation can be implemented. Without a secure 5G Network and lab environment both IP and National Security are at stake. This alliance with the PRBTA can help in supporting the collective Puerto Rico innovation network capabilities to potential users by educating and guiding them”, stated Gail Nolan, CEO of PR5GZ.
PR5GZ is an independent research network that operates two zero-trust architecture (ZTA) secured research labs on the island. They’re a nonprofit that provides innovators, from small businesses to government organizations, with access to digital tools to address the challenges of data security and telecommunications at a lowcost. They provide expert networks to support multi-disciplinary acceleration of discovery, as well as regular training activities and opportunities on new technologies for students and personnel.
The 5G-Blockchain Connection
The Research Empowered Advanced Communication Hub (REACH) proposal aims to stimulate smart manufacturing growth specifically in 5G, 6G, the internet of things (IoT), Blockchain, and Web3 technologies using highly secure and sophisticated regional communication infrastructure.
“5G is the latest generation of communications that has significantly higher speeds and capabilities. You can do a lot more video streaming and real-time applications without having gaps,” explained Nolan in an interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. Blockchain technology has many applications outside of supporting cryptocurrencies, one of which is supporting supply chains. The transparency and immutability of the Blockchain make finding and addressing problems easier. “In an open use blockchain, individuals can go and access an existing blockchain. Everything is run on a ledger, but multiple people simultaneously see it. Every line is recorded, so you can’t go back and change a previous line. It’s an immutable record,” Keiko Yoshino, Executive Director of the PRBTA, explained to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL.
This kind of environment adds additional layers of security to the information stored on the blockchain. Working from a software perspective or supply chain solutions for defense contracting companies, for example, it is also possible to set up private networks using the same technology. With everything on a private blockchain, organizations can maintain an extreme level of accountability, privately – a feature that participants of REACH will benefit from.
Puerto Rico - A national research laboratory “The [PRBTA] brought together an influx of new residents and created a knowledge sharing economy of diverse backgrounds and companies that can provide various services,” Yoshino commented of Puerto Rico’s blockchain
In fact, community. The island has the ‘critical mass’ necessary to pull together optimized teams for solving problems as they arrive at the PR5GZ. According to Not only does Puerto Rico have an incredible the World Economic concentration of Blockchain and Web 3 experts, Forum (WEF), the it is also the ideal location for a national research island ranks 6th laboratory both geographically and culturally. globally for highest “Puerto Rico is small and affordable enough concentration to pilot programs, but complex in network and of scientists and governmental structures. The solutions can engineers. be translated and scaled to other places in the world. Puerto Rico is the development hub, not a guinea pig. It flips the entire story – Puerto Rico will be leading the development of these new technologies,” Nolan expressed. Additionally, the island is advantageous for the US’s national security interests. Through its shared language, unique legal structure, and international banking and cultural similarities, Puerto Rico is a national security nexus to the Caribbean, Central, and South American countries. Thus, the island is uniquely positioned to defend against technology and information warfare within the Americas. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the island ranks 6th globally for highest concentration of scientists and engineers, with approximately 60% of its college graduates receiving degrees in STEM fields. Outside of the island, the Puerto Rican diaspora also has a significant documented population of midcareer researchers who might eagerly accept an opportunity to return to their home.
Puerto Rico is small and affordable enough to pilot programs, but complex in network and governmental structures. The solutions can be translated and scaled to other places in the world.
Gail Nolan, CEO of PR5GZ
Shoplifting losses increase as a consequence of economic uncertainty
Madison Choudhry, Special to The Weekly Journal
Businesses in Puerto Rico are currently feeling the consequences of the island’s fiscal situation and now the loss of funds from the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN, for its Spanish acronym). Shoplifting (theft) has begun to rise at an alarming rate.
Shoplifting in stores and businesses have become a booming enterprise for those incurring in such illegal activity and a black market network using a business-like strategy to operate has been established. The same laws which dictate supply and demand have become the driving force behind these black market supply chains. Criminals steal a specific item from a store with the intention of selling it to a known buyer who had expressed his/her need for the merchandise.
“They sell the products online, in kiosks and small shops,” said Walgreen’s Asset Protection manager for Puerto Rico and the USVI Daniel Negrón.
“This problem is a headache for business owners and operators, not only because of the economic impact, but also because of the discomfort of the employees who witness these thefts, often perpetrated by people who display violent behavior,” Negrón added.
Colonel Orlando Rivera, director of the Puerto Rico Police Academy, urged people to be vigilant to any suspicious activity that might result in theft.
“[Most] stores policy is not to intervene with thieves, but the Puerto Rico Police need willing witnesses to be able to prosecute the criminals,” Rivera said. “With the devastating fiscal effects the pandemic have had on the people’s income, there has been an escalation in [the number of] thefts, and 72% of businesses report that these criminals are becoming violent. They are organized groups that study schedules and staff,” Negrón informed.
“Criminals take drills and other tools and equipment but it is not only that… they will visit multiple stores several times a day. They are organized criminals who on occasion arrive with firearms,” said Alex Sostre, from Home Depot Loss Mitigation Department for South Florida, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
In fact, Sostre said that between eight and 10 robberies are recorded daily in at Home Depot stores in Puerto Rico, The same laws which dictate supply with some $40 million in loses every year in Puerto Rico. and demand have become the driving force behind these black market supply chains. Sales are dipping According to Eduardo Marxuach, president of Econo Supermarkets, “a new trend has begun, where customers are visiting to the stores more often but are buying less… and when they do buy, they are more likely to buy from the daily specials.” Marxuach estimated this trend started out last May. The supermarket executive considers this is due to people trying their best to stay on a budget. “The loss of PAN funds translated into a more budget conscientious consumer that spends his/ her money on basic needs, instead of clothes and shoes, which they may have bought more freely
when they had additional income,” Marxuach argued. However, Puerto Rico is set to receive an increase in federal funding for PAN by next October. This ultimately means participants in the nutritional program would be receiving an increase in their benefits. According to the Administration for the Socioeconomic Development of the Family (ADSEF, for its Spanish acronym), additional funding is expected to be more than $130 million.
Even though most of the funds from PAN are destined for buying food, about 40% the funds are transferred to other sectors on the island’s economy.
