Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy September

Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy September 26 -28, 2013 The Governance of the Colombian System of Science, Technology and Innovation Monica Salazar, Director Colombian Observatory of Science & Technology

Outline 1. Theory, policy and practice 2. Colciencias & the Colombian System of Science, Technology and Innovation – Background – The system today 3. The governance of Colciencias and the SNCTI

1. THEORY, POLICY AND PRACTICE

STI governance Knowledge based systems (based on interactions) • Triangle of Sabato – Government • Innovation systems – Firms • Triple Helix model of university industry relationships – Universities • Mode 2 What is the role of government? • Attend new societal demands • Define a political strategy to define role of State, within STI systems • Need to have a capacity to govern, formulate and execute policies • Need to have coordination and articulation abilities

Theory, policy and practice: dancing partners • Norms: legal rules • Theory: Sabato triangle, innovation systems – Normative approach vs analytical tool; creatinism • Policy: lineal model vs systemic policies, evidence-based? • Practice: affected by political and cultural issues • Every country has to find its own arrangement according to: its state apparatus, endogenous research and innovation capabilities, productive sector, etc.

Governance • Two terms in Spanish: – Governability: the State's response to define their role in society due to new demands; need to adapt to external changes and societal pressures. ØApplied for Colciencias – Governance: how civil society participate in State decision making and policy design. Ø Applied for the SNCTI • Affected by informal rules, legitimacy, power, and trust.

2. THE COLOMBIAN SYSTEM OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION – SNCTI 2. 1. BACKGROUND 2. 2. THE SYSTEM TODAY

Colciencias and the Colombian system of STI 1968 -1990 • Fund (research) • Ministry of Education 1991 -2008 • Institute (S&T) – Law 29/1990 • Department of National Planning 2009 - • Administrative Department (STI) – Law 1286/2009 • Presidency SNCy. T + NIS SNCTI 8

The Colombian system of Science and Technology (SNCy. T) according to Law 29 of 1990 (Article 4 of the Decree 585/1991) It is an open system , nonexclusive, which are part of all programs, strategies and activities of science and technology, regardless of the public or private institution or of the person to develop. The Colombian systems of science, technology and innovation (SNCTI( according to the Law 1286 of 2009 (Article 20) It is an open system of which they form a part the policies, strategies, programs, methodologies and tools for the management, promotion, funding, protection and dissemination of scientific research and technological innovation, as well as public organizations, private or mixed that perform or promote the development of scientific activities, technology and innovation.

Representation of the Colombian SNCTI Composition of a CPNCy. T: • Government: 5 -8 members • Productive sector: 4 -5 • Research/academic community: 5 Who are the councillors: the last two groups of actors are nominated by Colciencias based on merit, appointed by the National Council; not elected, or formally in representation of an organization, region, or discipline Functions: • Project approval • Formulation of policies and plans • Articulation of financial resources

2. 2. The System today • New law, some changes in the names of agencies and structure of the system – Colciencias higher level within the state • Royalties for STI activities – Introduced changes in the institutions and organizations, funding schemes, and policy making and implementation in STI in Colombia • Innovation one of the ‘’engines’ for social & economic development – In the political agenda

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Council COLCIENCIAS CACTI National Science, Technology and Innovation Program Councils - CPNCYT Biotechnology Technological Development and Industrial Social Sc and humannities Innovation Francisco José de Caldas Fund – FFJC Science, Technology and Innovation Fiscal Incentives National Council Basic Sciences Sea and hydric resources Agricultural Health Energy y mining Environment, Biodiversity and habitat Education Electronics, telecomunications and computing Security and defense Training of human resources for STI Departmental Councils of Science, Technology and Innovation Codecti Executors: Universities, companies, Centrers of R&D, research groups, scholarship holders.

ABC of the royalties for STI • Resources are distributed based on three factors: population, unemployment and poverty; the latter defined by the index of unmet basic needs. • Projects must be submitted by the territorial entities (departments or municipalities), prioritized by the Codecti, and then submitted to the national body of decision making (OCAD). • Colciencias does not receive or manage royalties moneys for royalties, is the technical secretariat of the OCAD and coordinates the process of evaluation of the proposals, • Project approvals are carried out by the OCAD, composed by 5 universities (3 public and 2 private), the national government (3 ministers, Colciencias and the DNP) and the territorial government (6 governors).

Some observations • Wise decision to orient royalties from exploitation of non-renewable resources for generation of knowledge & doctoral training. • However, sustainability of STI expenditures cannot rely on the bonanza mining. • No national policy, “summatory” of departamental STI plans. • Fragmentation of the “national” budget for STI. – Colciencias’ budget is diminishing, mostly oriented to Ph. D training

Observations continued • Procedures imposed on the distribution and allocation of resources are questionable, improvisation in execution of procedures (money transfer, contracts, monitoring, etc. ) – 5 days to evaluate large projects (before royalties average Col$600 M, now Col$10. 600 M. ) • The process of project evaluation need to be adjusted to ensure the quality and relevance of the projects and the transparency of the process, and formulate criteria for evaluation to cover different types of projects not only in research but also for example for training human resources.

3. THE GOVERNANCE OF THE SYSTEM OF STI

Colciencias’ governance instruments (past) • Capability to think, design and implement policies. • International cooperation • Learning and innovation • Openness and transparency • Efficacy, of allocation of resources • Access and diffusion of information

Governance mechanisms of the Colombian SNCTI • Building of policy networks, as a mechanism of administration and intermediation. • Creation of a social system that facilitate communication between actors and does not increase bureaucracy. • Facilitation public-private relationships. – Relying on trust, transparency, legitimacy and participation of various actors in the administration of the system.

How governance is affected by the royalities funding scheme? • The allocation of resources has been fragmented and negotiation is subject to the rhythms in the political regions (change of governors every 3 years). • The possibility of addressing a national problems and goals regarding STI development was lost (no national policy) • No policy networks supported • No participation of private business sector in OCAD Weakened and questioned

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION msalazar@ocyt. org. co Results based on: M. Salazar, Ph. D thesis, Simon Fraser University M. Salazar (ed) (2013, forthcoming). Colciencias 40 años; Entre la legitimidad la normatividad y la práctica. OCy. T: Bogotá. Project funded by Colciencias, CRC. 058 -2010