Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Velho, Lea
Author-Email: velho@intech.unu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: United Nations University, Institute for New Technologies
Title: Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Overview
Abstract: This paper presents and analyses a series of indicators of the state of S&T in
	 Latin America and the Caribbean. In doing so it compares LAC countries among
	 themselves as well as with the industrialised countries in order to identify trends
	 concerning the closing or widening of gaps in the capacity to produce and utilise
	 knowledge. The findings suggest that some LAC countries have created significant
	 capacity in research but they have not been able to build virtuous links among the
	 various relevant social actors involved in knowledge production and use. There are
	 problems at both the supply and demand sides. Concerning the former, universities
	 and public research institutes, which together perform almost 70% of R&D, have not
	 created mechanisms to identify user needs and instead base their research agenda on
	 scientific criteria dictated by international mainstream science. On the latter,
	 there has not much demand on local R&D given that TNCs innovate on the basis of R&D
	 conducted in the advanced countries and local private firms, in a bid to be
	 competitive, also prefer to import foreign technology. Government initiated schemes
	 to correct this imbalance - including provisions for public-private collaboration,
	 science parks and firm level research training - have been largely unsuccessful.
	 This state of affairs is largely due to the enactment of macroeconomic policies
	 aimed at opening up the country to foreign competition and privatising state
	 enterprises, without putting in place the necessary measures and incentives to
	 guarantee the investment and to diminish the risks involved in R&D. Firm and
	 focused government intervention is necessary if such trends are to be reversed. The
	 most obvious sphere for intervention is creating a more just society in the region,
	 and thus granting opportunity to education to social groups currently excluded.
	 Other policies have more direct bearing on R&D and include incentives for private
	 sector investment in R&D and hiring of researchers. Most of all, measures must be
	 implemented by all relevant S&T actors in terms of strengthening links among
	 themselves
Keywords: Latin America, Caribbean, Science and Technology Indicators, Science and
	 Technology Policy, Science and Technology
Series: Discussion Paper
Creation-Date: 2004
Number: 2004-04
File-URL: https://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/discussion-papers/2004-4.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 220 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unuint:200404