スペインの研究、開発、改革·革新·刷新への投資の劇的な削減への危機、警告、将来への没落
LA CUARTA PÁGINA
Un gran pacto de Estado en I+D+i
Un modelo basado en la generación de conocimiento solo tendrá éxito con un marco institucional estable en el que los agentes de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación diseñen estrategias a medio y largo plazo
Luis Oro 21 DIC 2012 - 00:00 CET
The fourth page
A great deal of state in R + D + i
A model based on knowledge generation will only succeed with a stable institutional framework in which the agents of Research, Development and Innovation design strategies in the medium and long term
Luis Oro 21 DIC 2012 - 00:00 CET
In recent years, we have witnessed a significant decrease in total effort in Research, Development and Innovation (R + D + i) it can affect so hard to reverse, the desirable shift to a production model based on knowledge.
What is the current state of scientific and technical research in our country? This question has two readings, the first of cautious optimism for the achievements, and a second of intense concern for their future, right now it is necessary to improve our competitiveness. So, often referred to under the place occupied by our universities in international rankings, the absence of recent Spanish scientists Nobel Prizes, the small number of patent applications from agencies and Spanish companies, etcetera. Moreover, it is also true that, as the result of considerable effort by government, and to a lesser extent, by the company, in the past three decades, Spain has achieved a presence in the international scientific concert like never before had, by taking into account the considerable volume of production and impact in international journals or international visibility of certain Spanish research centers. The answer to this apparent contradiction between the two views is that R & D + i is a complex and multifaceted. This multifaceted reality makes them compatible with other areas relatively healthy to say the least, have a wide margin for improvement. In the same vein, while some Spanish researchers are in the international scientific elite, a significant percentage of Spanish university researchers can not even be evaluated positively not always demanding productivity assessments of the Ministry of Education.
Knowledge has starred
GDP growth
in developed countries
Numerous comparative studies show that there is a correlation between the wealth of a country, measured by per capita income, and investment in Research, Development and Innovation (R + D + i), to the point that has been reached say that the most developed countries do not invest in R & D because they are rich, but they are rich because they invest or have invested. Our efforts in R & D is still too far from the more developed countries, and we must not forget that knowledge has been the star of the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) and productivity in virtually all economies developed over the past decades, and also the knowledge-based GDP is more resistant to periods of crisis.
What results has led the effort in R + D + i Spanish in recent decades? In the case of research, there are well-established indicators of production and impact of Spanish scientific publications indexed in international databases. These indicators show that our country ranks ninth in terms of production, a figure that drops to eleventh place when measuring the impact measured by the number of citations. In particular the most influential science are chemistry, physics, mathematics, materials science and engineering. These data show a reasonable situation of Spanish science in general, with emphasis on some areas. With respect to patents, the other major indicator of research output related to the protection of intellectual property, the results of R + D + i Spanish are much less favorable. In the same vein, the innovation-related indicators show that the situation in Spain is significantly lower than what would be expected, and desirable for a country of our size and level of development. The business sector's contribution to the effort in R & D + i is significantly lower than in other European countries, despite the implementation of incentives for public-private partnerships and contrasts significantly with the scientific capabilities developed. This is related to the structure of the production, dominated by SMEs in traditional sectors and low-technology, and with the small number of companies that have a systematic strategy of investment in R + D + i. However, there are some areas, such as renewable energy sector, in which Spain is in a prominent position, though still fragile. It can be concluded that our country has reached a reasonable scientific development in regards to academic research, although some indicators related to R & D in its most finalist significantly lower yield results, so that would be necessary urgent reforms.
The current economic scenario is probably not best suited to undertake the necessary reforms, but the desirable change in model development and increasing international competition over talent, scientific knowledge, technology and business leadership requires discriminately prioritize funding dedicated to activities I + D + i. The State Budget for 2013, related to R & D civil, shows a concentrated reduction, especially in financial funds, jeopardizing the continuity of many projects, and research groups. One should therefore be aware that they are putting at risk more than likely a large part of our R & D and, therefore, the possibility that the Spanish economy and society build a more solid foundation and sustainable to improve the welfare of its citizens in the near future. In short, an economic model based on knowledge generation will succeed only if it ensures the stability of the research system in terms of financial and human resources and if there is a private sector, beyond statements of intent, really bet for research and innovation. Therefore, it is contradictory to the rhetoric of change to a production model based on knowledge, while many of the measures being taken are not going in the right direction. Research in our country is currently testing a priority.
The business sector's contribution to the effort in this area is lower than in other European countries
It is necessary to provide our national R + D + i of a stable and predictable institutional framework, which is the subject of a great deal of state and to allow agents in the R + D + i design strategies in the medium and long term. This state policy research should incorporate in its design, financing and management to the regions in order to avoid dispersion of efforts and increase the efficiency of the system. It should promote policies that can lead to increased firm size and mutual cooperation and support its lending instruments financing, seed capital and venture capital that can be effectively used by those same companies. Foster also the transfer of research results in the public sector to the productive sector, and encouraging mobility between academic research and industry. Moreover, government agencies and universities should take responsibility for better management of their institutions and propose possible concentrations of institutes and departments with criteria of scientific rationality. For this they should be given sufficient autonomy and management rules linking this to a demanding accountability, favoring contractual relationship models that allow the recruitment of talent, reduce inbreeding accentuated and avoid losing talent is increasing in present.
In summary, the desirable structural transformation towards a knowledge-based production requires a sustained effort and priority of the R + D + i in terms of financial and human resources, improved corporate governance and a private sector Bet truly for research and innovation. In any case, sustained support for research should be a priority in the public interest because it is an empirically proven fact, as we said at the beginning, that the knowledge-based economies to better withstand periods of crisis.
Luis Oro, chemical, was general secretary of the National Plan for Scientific Research and Technological Development is part of the Circle and Civic Opinion.
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