Stevens President Raveche named Presidential Advisor for Science, Technology and Innovation in the Dominican Republic

HOBOKEN, N.J. — On Tuesday, Sept. 14, in Santo Domingo, His Excellency President Leonel Fernàndez of the Dominican Republic (DR) issued a decree appointing Stevens Institute of Technology President Dr. Harold J. Raveche as the Presidential Advisor for Science, Technology and Innovation.

Dr. Raveche’s appointment is part of a much larger role that Stevens has been called to play in the DR by the new Fernàndez government, including the joint establishment with Coralina Technologies Group and the Pontifica Catolica Universidad Madre y Maestra (PCUMM) of a new Institute featuring educational and research programs designed to help the DR meet its objectives for industrial job creation. The new entity will be located adjacent to the Cyber Park and the Institute of Technology for the Americas in Santo Domingo. The venture will benefit from Stevens’ extensive expertise in developing curricula and research that nurture innovation in the development and application of technologies for business formation and growth.

The Institute is scheduled to open mid-2005.

“President Fernàndez has made the entrance of the Dominican Republic into the global high tech community one of his top priorities,” said Raveche. “He seeks to realize his vision through a highly skilled and dedicated work force, private investment, and partnerships with business, industry and universities. The president has highlighted software, agriproducts, telecommunications, manufacturing and energy as areas of focus for attracting investment creating new businesses, growing existing businesses and establishing long term job growth for the citizens of the Dominican Republic. Stevens’ expertise in areas such as biotechnology, telecommunications and computer science and engineering will be of tremendous benefit in this effort.”

To help realize this vision and achieve these objectives for the benefit of all Dominicans, Fernàndez has issued a decree establishing the Business and Industry Board to attract investment, build partnerships and nurture the growth of companies. A Better Business Bureau will also be formed to ensure the highest level of business ethics and transparency so that private investors and multinational companies will be encouraged to become more involved in furthering the entry of the Dominican Republic into the global high tech economy. President Fernàndez has asked Dr. Raveche to volunteer in establishing the Business and Industry Board and the Better Business Bureau.

Fernàndez' mandate to Raveche is that the Business and Industry Board be a proactive, volunteer entity to identify, promote and establish business opportunities in the Dominican Republic with the deep commitment of leading Dominican Americans, many of whom are highly concentrated in the New York/New Jersey region.

President Fernàndez expressed his expectations to Dr. Raveche that the Better Business Bureau send a clear message to the international community that the Dominican Republic will practice the highest standards of business ethics.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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