UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT

UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT
n the creation of centres for research and innovation in
textiles, leather, wood and camelids – Bolivia is thought to
have the greatest number of llamas in the world;
n the development of research and innovation networks
in biodiversity, food production and land and water
management – some of these networks comprise more
than 200 researchers from both public and private
institutions distributed in various regional and national
working groups; and
n the creation of a fund for STI.
CHILE
A desire to embrace the knowledge economy
Chile’s economy grew by 1.9% in 2014, slowing
markedly from 4.2% in 2013. An expansion of 2.5% is forecast
in 2015, driven by a surge in public spending and positive
developments in the external sector (ECLAC, 2015a). Chile is the
major recipient of FDI in the region. In 2014 alone, it received
more than US$ 22 billion. Chile has a higher proportion of private
funding for education than any other OECD member country,
with 40.1% of education spending coming from private sources
(16.1% average for OECD countries). Chile was the highest
scoring Latin American country in the PISA 2012 mathematics
test but still 71 points behind the OECD average.
In Chile, it is the Office of the President of the Republic which
leads the national innovation system, under the direct guidance
of the National Innovation Council for Competitiveness (CNIC).
The latter proposes general guidelines for the development of
a National Innovation Strategy. The Interministerial Innovation
Committee then evaluates these criteria before establishing
short-, medium- and long-term national STI policies; it also
monitors the implementation of the National Innovation Strategy.
The Ministries of Education and of the Economy play a
leading role in the Interministerial Innovation Committee,
their participation being channelled through the main
public institutions with a focus on STI, namely, the National
Commission for Scientific and Technological Research
(CONICYT) and the InnovaChile wing of the Corporation for
the Promotion of Production (CORFO). The latter 17 supports
sectors with high-growth potential, through funding for SMEs
and the nurturing of an early-stage seed capital industry.
The government’s Agenda for Productivity, Innovation & Economic
Growth for 2014–2015 reflects the desire to move from an
economy based on natural resources to one based on knowledge
by diversifying the economy and supporting sectors with strong
growth potential. CORFO is a key partner in this intiative.
17. See www.english.corfo.cl
By March 2012, the government had already modified its R&D
tax credit framework to make it easier for firms to innovate.
The reform abolished both the eligibility requirements
for collaboration with external research centres and the
requirement to invest at least 15% of the company’s gross
annual revenue in R&D. In a move questioned by some, the
revenue from royalties levied on all mining operations was
used to finance R&D cluster development in priority sectors.
In January 2015, President Michelle Bachelet established a
Presidential Commission composed of 35 experts on the
theme of Science for Chile. Their mandate is to elaborate a
proposal as to how to foster STI and a broad scientific culture.
They are considering the possibility of creating a Ministry of
Science and Technology.
COLOMBIA
A greater focus on innovation
Colombia’s economy grew by 4.6% in 2014.
Growth projections for 2015 have been revised downwards,
although they remain between 3.0% and 3.5% (ECLAC,
2015a). In June 2015, the government implemented a
number of countercyclical policies known collectively as
the Productivity and Employment Stimulus Plan to encourage
investment and, thereby, limit the economic slowdown.
Colombia is preparing its entry into the OECD with the
intention of adopting, adapting and implementing improved
practices in a host of areas in relation to public governance,
commerce, investment, fiscal issues, STI, environment,
education and so on.
Colombia’s innovation system is co-ordinated by the National
Planning Department and the Colombian Institute for the
Development of Science (Colciencias). In 2009, Colciencias
was transformed into the Administrative Department for
Science, Technology and Innovation with responsibility for
formulating, co-ordinating, executing and implementing
related public policies in line with the country’s development
plans and programmes.
In 2012, the government created iNNpulsa Colombia with
the National Development Bank to support innovation and
competitiveness, with a budget of US$ 138 million for the
2012–2013 period. Some 70% of Colciencias’ Innovation
Management Programme, on the other hand, was oriented
towards micro-enterprises and SMEs (with a budget of
US$ 20 million in 2013). Since 2009, Colciencias has been
annually allocating US$ 0.5 million to support collaborative
projects between firms and the academic sector. The General
Royalties System Fund also now has a regional development
focus as far as STI is concerned.
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