Photo: from left to right Emanuel Lyons Delvalle, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Panama; Keith Krach, Chairman and Co Founder, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue; Eduardo Ortega Barría, National Secretary, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT); Janice deGarmo, Chief Global Engagement Officer, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue; Franklin Morales, National AI Strategy Lead, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT); Lee Rubenstein, Chief Training and Education Officer, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, in partnership with Panama’s National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT), convened senior policymakers and business executives on April 22, 2026, for its inaugural Trusted Tech Showcase: Panama Day – a focused effort designed to accelerate trusted technology partnerships grounded in democratic values and unlock real-world infrastructure opportunities.

Held in Washington, D.C., the convening marked the official launch of the Institute’s Trusted Tech Showcase Series, a new platform to advance tech diplomacy by aligning government priorities with private sector capabilities and catalyzing high-impact deals. The showcase also reflected a broader effort to strengthen trusted technology relationships across the Western Hemisphere and reinforce regional alignment on secure, reliable, and trusted emerging and critical technologies.

From Dialogue to Deal Flow 

Panama Day signaled a shift from discussion to execution, bringing together decision-makers and solution providers to advance trusted tech in action. The event, in anticipation of Panama releasing its national AI Strategy this year, spotlighted priority artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure projects in Panama, offering U.S. and allied companies direct visibility into live opportunities and emerging tenders.

“This is not just a dialogue – it’s a trusted marketplace,” said Janice DeGarmo, Chief Global Engagement Officer at the Krach Institute. “We’re bringing together policymakers and government officials who can make decisions with industry partners who can deliver – focused on real projects, real timelines, and real outcomes. This is how we move beyond talk and drive trusted technology partnerships that produce results.”

“Panama is focused on turning technology investment into real economic growth and opportunity,” said  Dr. Eduardo Ortega-Barría, National Secretary of SENACYT. “Through this collaboration, we are advancing priority projects in infrastructure, innovation, and digital transformation that will strengthen Panama's position as a trusted technology hub in the Americas.”

During the Trusted Tech Showcase: Priority Trusted Tech Projects session, Panamanian officials presented live infrastructure and technology opportunities, including projects tied to national digital systems, public services modernization, and strategic assets such as the Panama Canal. Industry partners responded with capabilities, solutions, and pathways for immediate engagement – transforming the session into an active dealmaking environment.   

Senior officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, International Development Finance Corporation and key Panamanian agencies – including Panama’s National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Public Services Authority – participated in the event.

Signing the MOU is Keith Krach, Chairman and Co Founder, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue and Eduardo Ortega Barría, National Secretary, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT)

Strategic Moment for Trusted Tech Collaboration

The showcase came at a pivotal moment in the expansion of global trusted technology ecosystems. Building on recent private sector initiatives – including the Trusted Tech Alliance, a coalition of 15+ global technology companies to establish secure, transparent, and ethical standards for AI, cloud, and connectivity, launched at the Munich Security Conference – the Krach Institute is now bringing together the other half of the equation: countries with immediate, investable demand. This effort supports the United States’ strategic focus on strengthening regional partnerships in the Western Hemisphere through secure and trusted technology that advances freedom. 

“Trusted technology is how we strengthen partnerships, grow economies, and ensure our values are reflected in the high-tech systems shaping the future,” said Michelle Giuda, CEO of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue. “Our Trusted Tech Showcase with partners in Panama is about moving faster together – connecting real demand with real solutions and creating a pathway to deliver meaningful outcomes across the Western Hemisphere.”

In addition to the event, the Krach Institute and the Panama’s National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation also announced they have entered into a strategic partnership to equip Panamanian officials with Tech Diplomacy training to support the development of trusted critical and emerging technologies grounded in democratic values. Through this partnership, participants will gain access to the Krach Institute’s Tech Diplomacy Academy — the world’s first online education platform dedicated to preparing leaders across government, industry, and civil society to understand how critical and emerging technologies shape national power, economic competitiveness, and freedom. The convening and strategic partnership lays the groundwork for long-term partnerships and future dealmaking opportunities and connects Panama to the Krach Institute’s Global Trusted Tech Network – the world’s fastest-growing alliance of governments, companies, and institutions committed to advancing freedom through technology. 

This collaboration represents a deepening of the Krach Institute’s strategic relationships in the Western Hemisphere, building on partnerships with the Dominican Republic’s telecommunications regulator, INDOTEL, as well as ongoing initiatives in Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras – creating a powerful, interconnected pipeline of talent committed to ensuring that technology advances freedom across the Americas. Through this work, the Institute continues to reinforce trusted partnerships in the region, ensuring that countries across the Americas are better positioned to collaborate, compete, and innovate together.