Research & Innovation
From The Report: Colombia 2013
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Identified as one of five sectors with strategic importance for its ability to bring about growth in other sectors, the research and innovation sector is set to undergo development in the near future as the 2012 tax reform will see 10% of all revenues from the extractive industries go towards funding innovative projects promoted by regional governments. The contribution of innovation to the country’s economic growth remains small, but efforts are under way to strengthen innovation facilitators, encourage the formation of innovation-based clusters and links between local, regional and national stakeholders and realign academia, researchers and the private sector. These initiatives have already shown some positive signs as a growing number of multinationals are setting up or expanding their research activities in the country, a trend expected to continue.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Feeding an entrepreneurial appetite: Focus on small enterprises and education renewed with key policies
OBG
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Over the past few years, innovation has become a popular term in the formulation of Colombia’s social and economic policies. Indeed, President Juan Manuel Santos’s administration identified the science, technology and innovation (STI) sector as one of five engines of economic growth and as an important instrument to reduce poverty and generate employment. Political discourse has been increasingly turning into economic policy, as illustrated by the creation of a state agency dedicated to sponsoring…

Analysis

Creating a strong base: Medellín has a plan to boost science and technology
OBG
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Innovation has taken centre stage in the growth plans of Medell n, Colombia’s second-largest city. In an attempt to diversify its traditionally strong industrial base, the city has embraced science, technology and innovation (STI) as a primary driver of development in strategic growth areas, such as energy, construction, health care, and information and communications technologies (ICT). Indeed, the city has ambitions to become the region’s capital of innovation by 2021. BOOSTING INNOVATION:…

Analysis

Park life: Potential new development platforms and the need for more English-speaking workers have both been identified
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Technology parks have been a part of Colombia’s efforts to attract high-level foreign investments for some time. The concept was first studied in 1996 with support from the Spanish government. In 2000 the government published a set of guidelines to encourage regional administrations and private investors to propose projects. This was followed by Law 590 of 2000 and Law 905 of 2004, in which the park concept was advocated as part of the economic growth policy. Various initiatives were born as…