Paraguay is once again positioning itself on the international stage thanks to the talent and innovation of its young people. Gabriel Ortiz, a student at the Taiwan-Paraguay Polytechnic University, represented the country in the prestigious 2024 Silicon Valley Incubation Program, where he and his team presented an innovative project focused on environmental sustainability. Ortiz shared details of this experience on the program Tribuna, broadcast by Paraguay TV.
The young man described Silicon Valley as “the epicentre of global innovation, home to startups and technology companies like Apple and Google.” His participation in the programme was made possible thanks to an extracurricular project led by a digital commerce professor in Taiwan, who guided them through the competitive process.
The project, called CO2, is an app designed to empower people in the fight against climate change. Its main goal is to measure individual carbon footprints and reward users who manage to reduce them by offering incentives such as discounts on supermarkets, sustainable clothing brands and eco-friendly transportation.
User-Centric Innovation
The application focuses on three main areas:
- Food: Evaluates the emissions generated during the production of products purchased in supermarkets, encouraging consumers to choose more sustainable options.
- Transport: Promotes the use of electric vehicles, such as the Uber Green services available in Taiwan, not yet implemented in Paraguay.
- Clothing: Promote the purchase of products from brands with sustainable lines, such as Nike and Patagonia.
Ortiz stressed that the project is based on parameters established by regulations in Taiwan, where companies already report their emissions. This information is stored in a database that allows the calculation and comparison of product emissions, offering a points system for the application’s users.
Paraguay and the potential for sustainability
The student acknowledged the challenges involved in implementing a project of this nature in Paraguay. “We still do not have specific regulations that require companies to measure and report their emissions. However, I believe that this represents a great opportunity for our country,” he said.
Ortiz highlighted the potential that Paraguay has to adopt these initiatives, highlighting the growing importance of the carbon credit market. This system allows companies not only to reduce their emissions, but also to obtain income by trading credits derived from these reductions. “It is an opening towards a new market that can benefit both the environment and the economy,” he said.
Beyond technology: A transformative experience
Beyond the technical development, Ortiz described the experience of participating in Silicon Valley as transformative. “Being there, you get an idea of how things really work in that environment, of what startups and entrepreneurs are like, as well as the importance of the culture of the country where you want to launch your idea, the market studies and research that would have to be done,” he commented.
Ortiz also emphasised the importance of thinking globally and adapting ideas to local needs. “We are thinking about how to adapt ourselves to be able to develop a project like this in Paraguay, and then expand it throughout Latin America. Because culture is something important, and here we are very different.”
Ortiz expressed his enthusiasm for the future of his project and the role that Paraguay can play in the global arena. “These types of initiatives show that in Paraguay we have the talent and capacity to compete in the international arena. Through these experiences, we are demonstrating that we can be part of the change towards a more sustainable world,” he concluded.
Gabriel Ortiz’s participation in the Silicon Valley Incubation Program represents, beyond a personal achievement, a testimony to the potential of young Paraguayans to carry forward innovative ideas that connect technology, sustainability and development. This milestone marks another step towards a Paraguay that bets on innovation as a driver of progress.
