The World Bank will help strengthen science and technology in Peru to promote its sustainable development | technology | flag | Peru | Peru

Executive Board of world bank Approved a $100 million loan to strengthen Peru’s National System of Science, Technology and Innovation (SINACTI). The project will promote research, development and innovation (R + D + i) in three strategic areas for the country: climate change, health, and the digital economy.

To achieve this, it will enhance three key aspects of SINACTI’s success: 1) governance and institutional reforms, 2) human resources and knowledge generation, and 3) technology and knowledge transfer between universities, public research entities and the private sector.

Between 2000 and 2019, Peru maintained remarkable economic growth in the region, backed by sound macroeconomic policies and a favorable external environment. The country’s economic diversification has increased in recent years, but its economy is still characterized by low private sector productivity and is still highly dependent on the export of raw materials.

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The limited productivity is explained in part by the low adoption of technology and innovation in industries. Moreover, the unavailability of highly skilled labor affects competitiveness and productivity. Finally, in regions where Peru produces world-class knowledge (such as health), this does not always translate into innovation in the sector, nor does it contribute sufficiently to solving the challenges facing the country.

“One of the most important gaps for the good performance of science, technology and innovation (STI) in Peru is the lack of high-level human resources in these areas. “The project is strongly geared towards this end, with a focus on the areas,” says Benjamin Martina, President of the National Council for Science, Technology and Innovation related to economic, social and environmental competitiveness, which are critical areas for the comprehensive development of the country.”) Similarly, the formation of research and innovation networks with the participation of specialists from different regions of the country and with their peers from other countries is strongly supported by the project so that the effectiveness of collaborative work is expressed in its full potential. In contrast, strengthening the institutional framework of SINACTI will facilitate networking.”

The project consists of three components. The first aims to strengthen the institutions and governance of SINACTI to encourage innovation in Peru. To do this, it will improve the capabilities of Concytec and Prociencia, as well as the rest of the institutions that make up SINACTI. The second component will finance research and doctoral studies, and seeks to develop human capacities to generate knowledge in order to improve the quality, quantity, and economic, social and environmental relevance of research.

This component will specifically promote women’s participation to help bridge gender disparities in research. Finally, the third component aims to strengthen the links between the private sector and academia to accelerate technology transfer and generate science and technology-based business innovations.

“Research and innovation are key drivers of countries’ competitiveness, productivity, and economic diversification, but they also contribute critically to the search for solutions to key development challenges,” explains Marianne Fay, World Bank Director in Bolivia, Chile. Ecuador and Peru.

“Through this project, we hope to contribute to strengthening Peru’s national science, technology and innovation system that promotes inclusive economic development and at the same time contributes evidence to address the country’s social and environmental challenges, such as ensuring access to high-quality health services, reducing regional disparities and adapting to climate change and mitigation. its severity,” he adds.

This is the first of a series of 3 consecutive projects totaling $300 million aimed at improving SINACTI’s contribution to productivity and economic diversification, with a particular focus on green growth and regional development.

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