Fostering inclusive science, technology and innovation systems in Central America through strengthening capacities on open science

 

According to the 2021 Global Sustainable Development Report, strong science, technology and innovation (STI) systems are foundational to inclusive development and to restarting progress on the SDGs, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) investments in public research and development have stalled or decreased since the start of the pandemic.

A second challenge is that existing funds are rarely deployed towards long-term investments in regional collaboration through research and capacity strengthening of STI systems, particularly in Central America and the Caribbean. Third, establishing strong national science structures in LAC, including science granting councils (SGCs), has been hindered by budget shortfalls, high civil-service turnover, public distrust in science, and political instability. Lastly, while SGCs in the region recognize the gender imbalances that remain in key fields at various levels, capacity gaps continue to hinder the formulation of policies that support gender inclusive STI agendas, placing women and excluded groups at the forefront of leading and benefiting from robust science systems.

This project, selected through an open competitive call, is a significant investment by IDRC aimed to support more inclusive STI systems in Central America by strengthening the capacities of regional science bodies, particularly SGCs, to implement open science policies and practices within their agendas and to support regional coordination towards high quality research and innovation. To achieve this objective, selected partners will do a cross-regional analysis of open science policies, identify best practices for the Central American context, bring together key STI stakeholders across sectors to jointly develop a regional policy on open science and mobilize the development of more sustainable collaboration mechanisms, and sustainably strengthen capacities of key STI actors to implement the agreed upon policy.

Countries eligible for support include Belize, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. The project will be led by a consortium formed by Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Fundación Ciudad del Saber, Consejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano, Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana, and Comisión para el Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico de Centroamérica y Panamá.