Abyss Between Mexico and the Knowledge Economy Rene Drucker Colin - La Jornada
go to original January 26, 2016

Over the past few years we have heard frequent mention of the importance of science and technology, as well as the issue of innovation. Recently, Peña Nieto was delighting in the fact that his administration had a great stake in these areas and that investment in them would increase. The question is whether a budgetary increase is truly the only solution to the problems that science is facing in Mexico.

More and more investment is, of course, needed, but that alone will not improve the needs of this sector. In my opinion, what's required is a change in strategy. Today the budgetary increases only tackle the budgetary requirements of CONACYT [National Council of Science and Technology] programs - i.e., more grants, more SNI members [National System of Researchers] and increases to the varied requirements of the 27 public research centers. But basic science projects often fall victim to funding cutbacks. Just as a reminder, basic science is what generates new knowledge, which, when utilized, can generate future technologies.

In 2009 I wrote an article in which I noted that, according to the OECD [Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development] (a body we belong to), Mexico, at the time, had the lowest level of scientific productivity, human resources training in science, investment in science and technology, science education and patent filings. This has not changed: in 2013 (and I’m quoting data given to me by an innovation company):

• Mexico obtained 17 patents;
• Canada 471 (almost 30 times more); the
• UK 1,770 (100 times more);
• Germany 5,465 (almost 300 times more); the
• United States 14,606 (almost 880 times more); and
• Japan 15,970 (940 times more).

In Mexico, 0.5% of businesses are innovative:

• Europe: average 49%;
• Germany: average 67%;
• Spain: average 33%.

Mexico has 23,000 researchers:

• Germany: 360,000;
• Japan: 660,000; and the
• United States: 1,265,011.

While it isn't known for sure exactly how many Mexicans with various talents and preparation are living abroad, it does seem to be almost a million.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Stuart Taylor

Image: Jason Lear

Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx

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