Workshop: “From Indicator to Instrument: The Contribution of Innovation Surveys to Public Policy Making”

Program

Organized by:
National Research and Innovation Agency (ANII), Uruguay
Ibero -American Science and Technology Indicators Network (RICYT) - CYTED

Sponsored by:
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Ibero-American Science, Technology and Society Observatory , of the University Higher Studies Centre of the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI)
Spanish International Development Cooperation Agency (AECID)

Supported by:
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Venue:
Hotel NH Columbia - Montevideo , Uruguay

Day 1 – Thursday, September 17

8:30 to 9:00 am: Registration of Participants

9:00 to 10:30 am:

Opening of Workshop

Speakers:

•  María Simón, Secretary of Education and Culture, President of the Ministry Office for Innovation, Uruguay (to confirm)

•  Fernando Amestoy, CEO ANII

•  Mario Albornoz, RICYT Coordinator

Conference :

•  Mario Albornoz- RICYT Coordinator: “From mimicry to the innovative road”

10:30 to 10:45 am: Coffee Break

10:45 to 12:30:

Session 1 – Using innovation surveys in the making of science, technology & innovation policies: the European case

As from the early 90s, Europe has been systematically applying innovation surveys and has therefore become the leading region in such field. Therefore, European countries already have a significant production of indicators and studies on the innovation processes of their companies. However, Arundel (2006) looks into the use of the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) results for policy making and evaluation in OECD countries and points to the significant gap between producing data and using data in policy making.

Conference

•  Speaker: Anthony Arundel- UNU-MERIT

Ronda de Preguntas y Debate

•  Moderator: Fernando Perini- IDRC

12:30 to 2:00 pm: Lunch

2:00 to 3:30 pm:

Session 2– Measuring innovation in Latin America today

The first few attempts to measure innovation processes in Latin-American and Caribbean countries were initially applied in the late 80s, though it was at the beginning of the year 2000 that the application of Innovation Surveys was streamlined throughout the region. At that time a manual was developed and published to measure innovation in developing countries: the Bogotá Manual. In view of the time elapsed and of the accumulated experience since the Manual was first launched, it is high time we opened a debate on the measurement of innovation processes in Latin-American countries and the main challenges faced today.

Panel : Presentations and Debate

Moderator:

•  Monica Salazar – Colombian Science & Technology Observatory

Speakers:

•  Guillermo Anlló – ECLAC Office in Buenos Aires : “Innovation: Going beyond R&D. Ibero-American evidence stemming from innovation surveys: building competitive business strategies”

•  Diana Suárez – REDES Group, Argentina : "Between being comparable and being useful: innovation indicators and ICT policy making"

•  João De Negri- Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (IPEA), Brasil, “Brazilian experience in innovation policies”

15:30 to 15:45 pm: Coffee Break

15:45 a 17:30 horas:

Session 2 (continued) – Measuring innovation in Latin America today

Panel : Presentations and Debate

Speakers:

•  Judith Sutz- University of the Republic, Uruguay : “From theory to surveys and back, searching to understand innovation in Latin America ”

•  Jeffrey Orozco – The International Center in Economic Policy- CINPE- of the National University of Costa Rica: “Relevant lessons in the generation process of Science, Technology and Innovation indicators in Costa Rica ”

•  Mónica Salazar – Colombian Science & Technology Observatory: “From manuals and forms to answers: The Colombian Case”

•  Questions and Debate

Day 2 – Friday, September 18

9:00 to 11:00 am:

Session 3 – Measuring innovation in the service sector

For some time now—in particular, since the advent of information and communication technologies (ICTs)—it has become clear that the service sector is no longer a mere complement to manufacturing and has turned into a force driving development and technological change. Nevertheless, measuring innovation in services is yet an unknown territory. Though there are a few measurement-related experiences at the international and regional levels, there is no mainstream as to what aspects to take into account when measuring and how to go about it.

Panel : Presentations and Debate

Moderator:

•  Hernán Jaramillo- University of Rosario, Colombia

Presentations:

•  Felipe Zamorano- University of Chile : “The Chilean Experience”

•  Fernando Estupiñán – Department of National Planning: “The Colombian Experience”

•  Elisa Hernández- ANIII: “The Uruguayan Experience”

11:00 to 11:15 am: Coffee Break

11:15 to 12:30 am:

Session 4 – Measuring innovation in the farming sector

In terms of innovation, this sector has been historically considered as a mere user of knowledge developed by other production sectors. However, evidence collected in the region over the last 15 years seems to question this secondary role and indicates the need for an in-depth analysis into the characteristics of the innovation process in the farming sector, in particular given the relevance of this sector to the Latin-American economies.

Panel : Presentations and Debate

Moderator:

•  Roberto Bisang – ECLAC Office in Buenos Aires

Presentations:

•  Ana María Ruiz- INTA: “The Argentine Experience”

•  George Kerrigan- Advisor: “The Chilean Experience”

•  Belén Baptista- ANII: “The Uruguayan Experience”

12:30 to 2:00 pm: Lunch Break

2:00 to 3:00 pm:

Session 5 – Using innovation surveys in the making of science, technology & innovation policies: the Latin-American case

Innovation surveys are requested and justified for different reasons, mainly because they provide the ground on which to make and evaluate policies geared to the strengthening of innovation systems at country level. Given that several countries in the region have already completed three or four innovation surveys, one wonders how far the data collected have been effectively used as input in the making and evaluation of public policy; in addition, which sources of information have been used by decision makers—both in addition to the surveys or instead of them. In order to answer this question a consultation methodology was designed and presented to decision makers in the field of ICT-related public policy in Latin America . The results are presented in this Session to trigger-off a discussion on how to transform collected data into key input to inform public policy making and evaluation .

Panel :

Moderator: Fernando Perini – IDRC

Commentator: Anthony Arundel - UNU-MERIT

Speakers:

•  Réjean Landry- Université Laval, Canada :  «Innovation surveys: a tool providing evidence for diagnostic and policy development»

•  Adolfo Garcé- University of the Republic, Uruguay : Project Results: “Consulting Policy Markers in STI about their information sources”

•  Debate with the participation of Policy Markers in Science, Technology and Innovation from Latin America and the Caribbean .

4:00 to 4:15 pm: Coffee Break

4:15 a 6:00 pm:

Session 6 – Innovation surveys: heading for a new regional agenda

A recap on the main issues addressed during the Workshop and a discussion on the challenges ahead so that Latin-American innovation surveys become true instruments that will support public policy making and evaluation.

Roundtable: Presentation by rapporteurs, discussion and conclusions

Moderators:

•  Guillermo Anlló – ECLAC Office in Buenos Aires

•  Belén Baptista – ANII (National Research and Innovation Agency), Uruguay

Rapporteurs:

•  Monica Salazar – Colombian Science & Technology Observatory

•  Hernán Jaramillo – University of Rosario, Colombia

•  Roberto Bisang – ECLAC Office in Buenos Aires

•  Fernando Perini- IDRC