Oranjestad / Willemstad / Philipsburg – November 21st, 2025 – The Universities of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have announced a joint initiative to foster entrepreneurship and drive innovation within the unique social, ecological, and economic contexts of their communities.
The collaboration is supported by a €150,000 grant from the Representation of the Netherlands in Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten.
Netherlands Representative Gerbert Kunst: “After previously serving as Consul General in San Francisco (2016-2020), I’m keen to continue building on best practices from Silicon Valley. It’s exciting that all three Universities in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom are open to deepening entrepreneurship education to foster the next generation of Caribbean startup success.”
At the heart of this partnership lies the Kingdom Startup Program, with Hubs in Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten that will serve as cornerstones for sustainable innovation ecosystems across the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Through this Program, students, ambitious academic founders, and emerging changemakers will receive hands-on training in contemporary entrepreneurship and innovation methodologies. Participants work closely with governments, private-sector partners, and civil-society organizations to co-create practical solutions to pressing social and economic challenges.
Joint pilot project in Aruba
The pilot implementation of the Program is set to take place in Aruba, in the summer of 2026, with additional participation from student delegations representing Curaçao and Sint Maarten. This pilot lays the groundwork for long-term integration of entrepreneurship education, knowledge exchange, and innovation capacity-building across the three islands. A final Demo Day is foreseen at all three Hubs over the summer break of 2026, when teams from Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten will showcase outcomes and share experiences.
The Program seeks to strengthen the economic resilience of the islands, build local capacity, and reinforce innovation sectors while deepening collaboration within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
- “We are excited to begin developing a multidisciplinary entrepreneurship curriculum—one that ignites students’ interest in creation and innovation, grounded in the local context of Aruba. Through this initiative, we aim to strengthen and contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem on Aruba and create a platform where students can explore, experiment, and bring their ideas to life, both inside and outside of the classroom.” – Sue-Ann Lee, Rector at University of Aruba
- “As we seek to embrace the so-called Orange Economy, or the creative industries, the University of St. Martin recognises that only through collaboration with our Kingdom partners, can we establish a durable ecosystem for our local entrepreneurs. It has become evident that the universities are central to any project supporting innovation and socio-economic development for our islands.” – Antonio Carmona Báez, President of the University of St. Martin and Professor of International Relations and Development.
- “We will use this grant to stimulate students to explore initiatives in the area of sustainable development and technology, and discover their business talents.” – Stella van Rijn, Rector Magnificus at the University of Curaçao.
- “This collaboration is about shaping a shared future,” said Michael Dooijes, founder of StartAruba and strategic lead of the Kingdom Startup Program (KSP). “By connecting these three universities, (aspiring) entrepreneurs, and strengthening ecosystems, we’re turning the Caribbean part of the Kingdom into a launchpad for innovation that is rooted locally yet globally connected.’’
Next steps
The universities and their partners will finalise the program structure early 2026, with recruitment of student teams and mentors beginning in the spring semester. A public announcement event and visual campaign will follow to highlight the participating universities, partners, and opportunities for collaboration.
Stay tuned – more details on the summer 2026 edition, partnership opportunities, and the first student cohorts will be announced soon. Exciting times are ahead for the Dutch Caribbean’s next generation of innovators.
