Science & Technology Policy

The suggestions below are examples of possible ways that Developing Countries can strengthen their capacity to implement a Science and Technology Policy.

1 Develop a scientific centre of excellence in Tropical Agriculture and a network of Intermediate Technology diffusion centres with the aim in the next 10 years of being an exemplar of good practice in rural development.

2. Develop Technology of Entrepreneurship centres that focus on developing the personal skills to find and exploit world-class technologies and apply them within a business development context.

3. Develop a World-Class Applied Behaviorial Science Think Tank that investigates and advises government and policy institutions on the best ways to deal with social problems using social science research findings.

4. Develop a national network of exemplar good practice organisations (in all key sectors) that have applied holistically all relevant technologies and use these as Teaching Companies (the rationale here is that technologies are, from a public policy viewpoint, seen as separate when, in reality, they need to be seen as sets of integrated technologies).

5. Develop managerial training programmes in "Selecting, Adopting and Integrating Technologies in Key Sectors" based on real cases. Make this training a requirement for companies selling to the public sector.

6. Use the purchasing power of the government to require the upgrading of technology adoption in local companies.

7. Set up an organisation similar to the UK's NESTA.

8. Encourage world leading science-based companies to locate R&D facilities in your country by building a Science Eco-City that will be a great place to live and work. Use this to show people that 'we can do it'.

9. Use a "connect and develop" approach to advancing science rather than "we must have our own capability in every area". Use Open Innovation models (not conventional University policies) to advance science generally. Be highly selective in investing in world-leading science.

10. Direct research funds to those who make a positive impact on Venezuelan society, rather than to academics that are seeking to advance their careers.

11. Require academic institutions gaining funds to have strong reach-out and communication programmes for each R&D area. They tend to be insular and separated from the rest of society.

12. Invest, selectively, in 'industries of the future' as Foundation Chile did with salmon farming.