Board of Directors

Luis A. Torres is a technology innovator and community builder who founded the Engine-4 Foundation—a hub for prototyping, applied research, and workforce development in Bayamón. Under his leadership, Engine-4 partnered with T-Mobile to launch Puerto Rico's first 5G and NB-IoT Open Innovation Lab, giving startups, students, and enterprises a real-world testbed for next-generation connectivity.

He also leads AgroBrain, a controlled-environment agriculture project that combines AI, robotics, and sensor networks to study crop performance and help farmers adopt resilient, data-driven practices. Torres and the Engine-4 team regularly convene hackathons, bootcamps, and pilot projects that connect local talent with global networks—from precision agriculture demonstrations to collaborations tied to the International Space Station National Lab.

Jose J. Torres is a co-founder of the Engine-4 Foundation, bringing extensive expertise in technology innovation and entrepreneurship. His vision and leadership have been instrumental in establishing Engine-4 as a leading innovation hub in Puerto Rico.

Working alongside the Engine-4 team, Jose has contributed to developing strategic partnerships and fostering a culture of innovation that connects local talent with global opportunities in agriculture technology, IoT, and sustainable development.

Emmanuel Oquendo is a technologist and entrepreneur who builds practical automation for service-heavy industries. After Hurricane María disrupted phone service across the island, he co-founded BrainHi to help clinics and local businesses recover critical communications. Today, BrainHi's AI receptionist answers missed calls, handles routine questions, and books appointments so front-line teams can focus on care and operations.

The platform has been adopted by providers across Puerto Rico—including major systems such as NeoMed Center, Ashford Hospital, Manatí Medical Center and the Mennonite Health System. Beyond leading a growing product team, he mentors founders, speaks on responsible AI adoption for small and midsize organizations, and partners with Puerto Rican enterprises to modernize customer engagement.

Héctor De Jesús-Cortés is a neuroscientist and educator whose research centers on synaptic plasticity—how experience reshapes brain circuits—and its implications for learning and neurological disease. Now an Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico–Río Piedras, he investigates mechanisms of neural adaptation and mentors students in rigorous, data-driven research practices that bridge biology with computation.

Beyond the lab, De Jesús-Cortés is a dedicated ecosystem builder, designing programs that expand access to high-impact STEM learning for Puerto Rican students. He has helped connect UPR undergraduates and pre-college cohorts with research experiences and mentoring networks spanning Puerto Rico and MIT—work that gained national attention for supporting students after the 2017 hurricanes.

Ubaldo M. Córdova-Figueroa is a theoretical and computational soft matter researcher and higher-education leader known for building capacity at the intersection of science, talent, and economic development. A professor of Chemical Engineering at UPR–Mayagüez and former Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs & Research of the UPR system, he has led system-wide efforts in academic innovation, research administration, and technology commercialization.

Córdova-Figueroa has coordinated Strategic Doing workshops and multi-institution partnerships with government, industry, and nonprofits—mobilizing resources for research centers, entrepreneurship training, and resilience infrastructure across Puerto Rico. He champions data systems and digitally enabled learning that prepare students and companies for advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and the blue economy.