Science, Technology, and Innovation in Chile

Chile and Canada are two countries who share the challenge of creating and maintaining a vital "national system of innovation" to serve the needs of their resource-based economies. Chile and Canada also have a rich history of research collaboration, largely fostered by the activities of IDRC. With this in mind, and following a conversation between Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Chilean President Eduardo Frei in 1997, IDRC and the Chilean National Council for Science and Technology (CONICYT) agreed to collaborate in a review of Chile's policies and programs in science and technology.

Science, Technology, and Innovation in Chile presents the results of that review. It gives the reader a detailed look into Chilean policies of science and technology, using the "national system of innovation" as its point of departure. The book proposes mechanisms for better public-sector coordination, reforms of public-sector technology institutes, and policies for training scientists and engineers. It will appeal to government officials and policymakers in science and technology; academics, researchers, professors, and university students in development studies, policy studies, and Latin American studies; public and private businesses involved, or interested in becoming involved, in the Chilean economy; and donor organizations and NGOs active in Chile and throughout Latin America.

The authors

James Mullin is currently President of Mullin Consulting Ltd (Canada). He is former Vice President, Program of IDRC and former Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology Policy for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Robert M. Adam is Deputy Director General of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology for the Government of South Africa. Dr Adams is responsible for the articulation of the science, technology, and innovation policy in South Africa and for implementation of the reform of the governmental system of science, engineering, and technology institutions.

Janet E. Halliwell is President of JEH Associates Ltd (Canada). Dr Halliwell is former Chair of the Science Council of Canada, former Chair of the Nova Scotia Council on Higher Education, and former Director General, Research Grants of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Larry P. Milligan is Vice President, Research at the University of Guelph (Guelph, Canada). Dr Milligan is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a former member of the Prime Minister of Canada's National Advisory Board on Science and Technology.