AGP Executive Report

Biopharma Manufacturing: Taiwan-based PharmaEssentia plans a $46 million plant in Toa Baja, with operations expected to begin in 2027. The facility will make a blood-cancer drug and diversify the company’s supply chain. Energy Research: Puerto Rico is among 21 states included in a $36 million Department of Energy research program supporting projects in fields such as batteries, fusion and materials science. University Innovation: UPR-Mayagüez professor won an NSF CAREER award for research on human-AI collaboration in autonomous vehicles; UPR also opened a scientific incubator backed by $4 million for a research and technology center. Water Research: A regional study used rainfall records, GIS and satellite data to track watershed and surface-water changes, including in the Río Grande de Loíza. Puerto Rico’s water rationing also highlights how aging infrastructure compounds drought risks. Wildlife Science: A federal biologist rescued a critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot chick from an invasive boa, underscoring the threats facing the island’s native species.

Water Research: Nigerian researcher Ayobami Oni won an award for work tracking rainfall trends across Puerto Rico and nearby islands, and assessing water conditions in the Río Grande de Loíza watershed with satellite data. Wildlife Conservation: A federal biologist rescued a young endangered Puerto Rican parrot from an invasive boa in Maricao State Forest; the chick was checked for injuries and returned to its flock. Research Infrastructure: UPR opened a scientific incubator and secured $4 million for a research and technology center. Autonomous Vehicles: A UPR–Mayagüez professor received an NSF CAREER award for research on human-AI collaboration in autonomous vehicles. Vieques Ecosystems: Puerto Rico’s environmental agency is investigating a possible decline in bioluminescence in Vieques Bay.

Wildlife: A federal biologist rescued a critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot chick from an invasive boa in Maricao State Forest after its flock’s alarm calls led him to the bird. Solar: Puerto Rico was among 42 states and territories taking distributed-solar policy action in Q3, according to a new report; the report counted 221 actions nationwide. Marine science: Researchers identified a new giant isopod species in a specimen collected at a Puerto Rico research station in the 1980s and later found in a German university collection. Vieques: Puerto Rico’s natural resources agency is investigating a possible decline in bioluminescence in the bay. Research: UPR–Mayagüez professor earned an NSF CAREER award for work on human-AI collaboration in autonomous vehicles, while UPR opened a scientific incubator and secured $4 million for a research and technology center.

Solar Policy: Puerto Rico was among the jurisdictions taking distributed-solar policy action in the third quarter, according to a new national report tracking rules on grid connections, billing and energy storage. Deep-Sea Discovery: A giant isopod collected at a Puerto Rico research station in the 1980s has been identified as a new species after researchers reexamined the specimen with advanced imaging. Advanced Manufacturing: Warmkraft Puerto Rico plans to invest $16 million in a facility treating military clothing to repel disease-carrying insects, creating 56 jobs. Research and Innovation: UPR–Mayagüez opened a scientific incubator with $4 million for a research and technology center; a professor there also won an NSF CAREER award for research on human-AI collaboration in autonomous vehicles.

Defense Manufacturing: Warmkraft Puerto Rico plans a $16 million Guanajibo facility to treat military clothing against disease-carrying insects, reusing a long-vacant industrial site and creating 56 jobs. University Research: UPR opened a scientific incubator and secured $4 million for a research and technology center; a Mayagüez professor also won an NSF CAREER award for research on human-AI collaboration in autonomous vehicles. Marine Science: A giant isopod collected off Puerto Rico was identified as a new species decades after being mislabeled in a German collection, underscoring how little is known about life in the island’s deep waters. Environmental Monitoring: Puerto Rico’s environmental agency is investigating a possible decline in bioluminescence in Vieques Bay.

Civil Engineering: A $2.7 million project stabilized and widened the bridge approach on PR-110 in Moca, using a system designed to last 75 years. Wildlife: A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist freed a young Puerto Rican parrot from an invasive boa in Maricao State Forest; after overnight monitoring, it rejoined its flock. Research and Innovation: UPR opened a scientific incubator and secured $4 million for a research and technology center. A UPR–Mayagüez professor also won an NSF CAREER award for work on human-AI collaboration in autonomous vehicles. Marine Science: Puerto Rico’s environmental agency is investigating a possible decline in bioluminescence in Vieques Bay.

Vieques Research: Puerto Rico’s natural resources agency is assessing a possible drop in bioluminescence at Mosquito Bay, a globally renowned ecosystem, and says it will examine measurements with urgency. Wildlife Conservation: A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist rescued a young Puerto Rican parrot from an invasive boa in Maricao State Forest; after overnight monitoring, the bird rejoined its flock. Research and Innovation: UPR opened a scientific incubator backed by $4 million for research and technology, while a UPR–Mayagüez professor received an NSF CAREER award for work on human-AI collaboration in autonomous vehicles. Science Across the Islands: Citizen-submitted photos helped researchers document previously unrecorded spiders in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, showing how public observations can aid biodiversity research. Life Sciences Logistics: FlyUs opened a San Juan office and won an Air Canada cargo contract for three weekly flights to Toronto, creating a new route for Puerto Rico’s pharmaceutical and healthcare shipments to global markets.

Vieques Research: Puerto Rico’s natural resources agency is investigating a possible drop in bioluminescence at Mosquito Bay, measuring conditions in the world-famous ecosystem. Research and Innovation: UPR has opened a scientific incubator and secured $4 million for a research and technology center. At UPR Mayagüez, computer science professor Juan F. Medina Lee won a five-year, $517,000 NSF grant to study human-AI teamwork in autonomous vehicles. Life Sciences Logistics: FlyUs opened a San Juan office and won Air Canada’s Puerto Rico cargo contract, covering three weekly flights to Toronto and access to global markets—an important route for the island’s pharmaceutical exports. STEM Education: Vimenti received a $1.03 million federal grant to expand STEM programs in Puerto Rico. Hurricane Resilience: NIST is continuing research into Hurricane Maria’s impacts and is seeking residents’ photos for a documentary on the storm and recovery.

Research and Commercialization: UPR opened ASTRE, a seven-lab scientific incubator in San Juan, and secured another $4 million for a technology-transfer center to help turn research into products and businesses. AI and Mobility: UPR–Mayagüez professor Juan F. Medina Lee won a five-year, $517,000 NSF CAREER award to study how people and AI can share decisions in autonomous vehicles. STEM Education: Puerto Rico nonprofit Vimenti received a $1.03 million federal grant to expand STEM learning. Student Innovation: Seventh-grader Wileidy Feliciano-Rivera developed biodegradable mulch from plantain peels that cut weed growth by up to 53%.

Human-AI Research: UPR-Mayagüez computer science professor Juan F. Medina Lee won a five-year, $517,000 NSF CAREER grant to study how people and AI can coordinate safely in autonomous vehicles. Research and Startups: Puerto Rico opened ASTRE, a 20,000-square-foot science incubator at UPR’s Center for Molecular Sciences, with seven labs and four cleanrooms. The government also committed another $4 million to expand technology transfer and commercialization. STEM Education: Vimenti secured a $1.03 million federal grant to expand STEM programs in Puerto Rico, adding to the island’s efforts to prepare students for high-demand fields.

Health Technology: Singular Health says its 3DICOM platform, which helps clinicians find patients’ earlier scans and avoid duplicate imaging, is already deployed in Puerto Rico. Wildlife Science: A biologist rescued a juvenile Puerto Rican parrot from an invasive boa in Maricao State Forest; the endangered bird returned to its flock the next day. Marine Discovery: Researchers identified a new giant isopod species from a specimen collected in Puerto Rico in the 1980s. They named it Bathynomus tuebingoborikensis, honoring both its university collection and Boríken, the Taíno name for Puerto Rico. STEM and Innovation: Puerto Rican seventh-grader Wileidy Feliciano-Rivera developed biodegradable mulch from plantain peels that reportedly cut weed growth by up to 53%. Vimenti also secured a $1.03 million grant to expand STEM education on the island, while Puerto Rico announced $2 million in scholarships for high-demand fields. Digital Services: The VA is testing biometric kiosks at its San Juan medical center to help veterans set up and access online accounts in person.

Marine Science: Researchers identified a new giant isopod species from a specimen collected off Puerto Rico in the 1980s. Named Bathynomus tuebingoborikensis, it may help explain how these deep-sea creatures evolved and spread. Veteran Services: San Juan is among six VA sites testing biometric kiosks that let veterans set up and access online accounts in person. Tech Exports: Seven Puerto Rican companies joined a trade mission to Austin, representing fields including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digitalization. STEM Education: Vimenti secured a $1.03 million federal grant to expand STEM programs on the island. Student Innovation: Puerto Rican seventh-grader Wileidy Feliciano-Rivera developed biodegradable mulch from plantain peels, cutting weed growth by up to 53%.

Marine Discovery: Researchers identified a new giant isopod species from a 12.7-inch specimen collected off Puerto Rico in the 1980s. Named Bathynomus tuebingoborikensis, it had been misclassified in a German museum collection for decades. Digital Services: San Juan’s VA hospital is one of six sites testing biometric kiosks that help veterans set up and access online accounts in person. Tech Exports: Seven Puerto Rican businesses joined a trade mission to Austin, including firms in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digitalization, aiming to build U.S. partnerships. STEM Education: Vimenti won a $1.03 million federal grant to expand STEM education in Puerto Rico. The island is also offering $2 million in scholarships for high-demand fields. Industrial Growth: Puerto Rico manufacturers are outlining plans for the next decade, with technology, infrastructure and workforce development on the agenda.

Marine Science: Researchers identified a new giant isopod species from a specimen collected off Puerto Rico in the 1980s. Named Bathynomus tuebingoborikensis, the 12.7-inch crustacean had sat unidentified in a German university collection for decades. Digital Access: San Juan’s VA hospital is among six testing facial-recognition kiosks to help veterans create and access online benefits accounts. Tech Exports: Seven Puerto Rican companies joined a DDEC trade mission to Texas, including firms in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digitalization and pharma services, seeking customers and partners. Industrial Growth: Puerto Rico manufacturers are planning a decade of investment in technology, infrastructure and workforce development; the industry association reports more than $2.37 billion in manufacturing investment commitments since 2025. STEM Education: Vimenti received a $1.03 million federal grant to expand STEM education in Puerto Rico. A Puerto Rican seventh-grader also drew attention for turning plantain peels into biodegradable mulch that reportedly cut weed growth by up to 53%.

Marine Research: Scientists identified a new giant isopod species from a specimen collected off Puerto Rico in the 1980s. The 12.7-inch crustacean was named Bathynomus tuebingoborikensis, combining the university’s name with Boríken, the Taíno name for Puerto Rico. Digital Access: A VA pilot is bringing facial-recognition sign-up kiosks to San Juan and five other medical centers, helping veterans access online services in person. Tech Exports: Seven Puerto Rican companies joined a DDEC trade mission to Texas, including firms in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digitalization and pharma services. STEM Education: Vimenti received a $1.03 million federal grant to expand STEM programs in Puerto Rico, while seventh-grader Wileidy Feliciano-Rivera developed plantain-peel mulch that cut weed growth by up to 53%. Workforce: Puerto Rico is offering $2 million in scholarships for high-demand fields, supporting training in areas tied to the island’s future workforce needs.

Marine Science: A giant isopod collected off Puerto Rico in the 1980s has been formally identified as a new species, after decades of being mistaken for a known one. Export & Innovation: Seven Puerto Rican companies joined a DDEC trade mission to Austin, pitching products and services in sectors including pharma compliance, digitalization, cybersecurity and AI. Manufacturing: Puerto Rico’s industrialists will meet in Ponce on Oct. 22 to plan the sector’s next decade, focusing on investment, infrastructure, workforce and technology; the association reports more than $2.37 billion in manufacturing commitments since 2025. STEM Pipeline: The DDEC opened applications for $2 million in scholarships for high-demand fields, with priority for scientific research. Separately, Vimenti received a $1.03 million federal grant to expand STEM education on the island. Digital Access: The VA’s pilot for in-person digital account registration includes its San Juan medical center, where CLEAR identity-verification pods will help veterans set up VA.gov accounts.