PLAN OF ACTION

1.     The Present Context of Hemispheric Cooperation in Science and Technology

In response to directives issued by  the Heads of State and Government attending  the 1994 Summit of the Americas, and in order to improve international cooperation in the area of science and technology,  to reduce barriers to collaboration and fosterintegration, to increase the demand for technology, to disseminate information ontechnological opportunities using new advances in information technology, and to improvecommunication amongkey S&T organizations,the Ministers responsible for science and technology affirm their commitment to the following Plan of Action.

a)        Main Programs for  Hemispheric Cooperation in Science and Technology

Various hemispheric cooperation programs on science and technology have contributed significantly to development ofthe scientific and technological infrastructure that exists within the region.These include, among others, the scientific-technological cooperation programs developed byIDB,the OAS,CYTED,IDRC,UNESCO,UNIDO,COLCYT,CCST,the international and regional system for agricultural research and technological development (coordinated by  CGIAR) and programs carried out by scientific associations and regional research centers,  such as CARDI, INTERCIENCIA, the Steering Committee for Scientific Networks in the Hemisphere, and IOHE.The Ministers concede these programs will play a key role in efforts to implement this Plan of Action  and, therefore, agree to encourage action to reinforced and encouraged the development of efficient links for communication between them.

More recently,   new cooperation programs have been initiated in this area, but are too young to offer anything but  preliminary results.  As instructed by  the Heads of State and Government  in Miami, the Ministers weighed the progress and promotion of two such programs,  MERCOCYT and the Bolivar Program.  Other programs in this group include the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI), and the GLOBE Program, which  are covered in Section 2.2.3.

b)        The MERCOCYT  Initiative

Action developed through  MERCOCYT helps universities, institutes and research centers to contribute more directly to the generation and transfer of technology used by companies (especially small and medium-sized firms) and by public service agencies. The Ministers recommend that MERCOCYT (the technical secretariat of which is located within the OAS Department of Scientific and Technological Affairs) continue to encourage the scientific institutions of OAS member states to combine their capacity and efforts.  It should also continue to establish cooperation ties among international agencies, inter-American partnerships of   academic and technical institutions,  and the production sector.

c)        The Bolivar  Program

The objective of the Bolivar Program is to facilitate strategic alliances among innovative companies, universities, and centers for research and development throughout the Hemisphere.  To enhance its efficiency in terms of the number of projects reaching the investment stage,  it is believed the Program must strengthen its capacity to obtain financial resources,  especially funding for projects presented preferably by small and  medium-sized innovative firms. In addition,  the Ministers note the need to improve coordination and cooperation between offices of the Bolivar Program and national science and technology agencies of the countries in the region.

2.       Actions to Strengthen Hemispheric Cooperation  in  Science  and  Technology

2.1         Development of Scientific and Technological Capacity in the Countries of the Hemisphere

The development of scientific and technological capacity requires continuous human resource training and establishment of the institutional infrastructure and research capacity needed to achieve scientific, economic and social development.  Policies to encourage investment in education and training programs, together with well-defined mechanisms for evaluation and follow-up, facilitate the assimilation of knowledge generated through research and its transformation into technology.  To foster cooperation aimed at developing the scientific and technological capacity of  the countries in the Hemisphere,  the Ministers shall join forces to:

1. Strengthen the capacity to draft  policies on  science and technology,  when relevant, and to encourage further investment in science and technology by the public and private sectors,  when necessary.

2.Foster joint programs and projects for basic and applied research,  in addition to securing   strategic alliances.

3. Promote advanced training for researchers by establishing and strengthening national and regional programs at the doctoral level and by creating scholarship funds to facilitate exchange programs for students and researchers.

4. Support the development of indicators in science, technology and innovation,  such as those being devised  by the OAS  Working Group on Science and Technology Indicators and the CYTED Ibero-American  Network on S&T Indicators  (RICYT).

5. Support the creation, reinforcement and networking of centers of excellence in strategic areas of scientific and technological development in the countries of the Hemisphere.

6. Foster the establishment and build-up of databases developed by institutions, researchers, programs and projects, and their incorporation into international information networks.

7. Facilitate the founding of binational and multinational enterprises or institutes involved in  the generation, dissemination and application of knowledge and technology,  based on  valuable regional experience with such endeavors (e.g.,  the Argentine-Brazilian Center for Biotechnology - CABBIO).

8. Promote the creation and reinforcement of training programs on science and technology management.

9.Support the creation of centers to disseminate and popularize science and technology among primary and secondary students and the general public, and the networking of these centers.

10. Encourage the development of links among scientists through regional governmental and non-governmental organizations.

2.2         Strengthening the Interface between Science,  Technology  and  Development

2.2.1           Science,  Technology  and  Social  Development

A number of  countries in the region have witnessed  growing impoverishment among major sectors of their populations.  The alleviation of poverty is an urgent need in which science and technology can play an important role, not only through research but by supplying  technology in fields associated with basic social needs, such as housing, health, employment generation and a build-up in production capacity,  and by  strengthening and using indigenous knowledge that is deeply rooted in the community and in popular culture.   In this respect,  the Ministers shall join forces to:

1. Promote research related to improving the capacity and effectiveness of social development policies and social intervention programs, with an emphasis on identifying techniques to ensure the participation of potential beneficiaries, on disseminating proven technologies and practices, and on evaluating programs.

2. Encourage programs for technological research and technology transfer to improve the productivity and competitiveness of  society’s least productive sectors.   

3. Take steps to strengthen  public dialogue on social issues and research results,  at local, regional and national level, among researchers and the various users and beneficiaries of research.

4. Focus special attention on guaranteeing gender equality in human resource training and in scientific and technological development programs.

5. Foster a sharing of experience and information, as well as the development of cooperative programs in science and technology that support the generation and application of innovative educational programs, the production of foods  low in cost and high in nutritional value, and the introduction of innovation to  national health systems and basic health services, in close cooperation with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO).

6. Appropriately encourage the diffusion and understanding of science and technology in educational programs,  especially at elementary and secondary level,   in the interest of fostering  an innovative attitude among the young.

7. Facilitate a sharing of information on different policy approaches and  “best practices” in social intervention programs by establishing a regional data base with information on programs for social upliftment in the countries of the region.

2.2.2           Science,  Technology,  Innovation and  the Corporate Sector

Contemporary economic competitiveness is related directly to the ability to apply scientific and technological progress to the production of goods and services.   Efforts to  develop and strengthen innovation systems play a vital role in guaranteeing  a link between science, technology and production.  Therefore, measures must be adopted  to encourage the countries of the Hemisphere to share scientific and technological information.  Moreover,  the countries should encourage an expansion of domestic scientific and technological capacity, based on demand from the private sector and non-governmental interests in technological opportunities.  Accordingly,   the Ministers shall join forces to:

1. Stimulate interaction between the government, the production sector, academic institutions, research centers,  and other potential partners in the area of science and technology,  through regional science and technology fairs and other mechanisms for hemispheric cooperation.

2. Encourage the development of innovation systems in the countries of the region through technological service delivery,  technological research,  and by  strengthening relations between companies and institutions of higher learning, with  special attention to small and medium-sized enterprises.

3. Promote the development of cooperation programs between S&T institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises, in order to establish technology-intensive enterprises and to strengthen technological innovation.

4. Encourage training programs on innovation and technology management for technologists,  scientists and entrepreneurs.

5. Build support for the Inter-American Metrology System, so as to harmonize weights,  measures and standards,  and to facilitate technical certification in the region.

6. Promote an  exchange of information on legislation concerning intellectual property and patent rights in the region.

7. Strengthen and support the creation of regional programs for technological research and development in strategic areas of multilateral interest.

8. Encourage firms and corporate organizations to participate in discussion on  these topics.

2.2.3           Science and Technology for Sustainable Development

The growing importance of adopting national policies on sustainable development poses a major challenge to science and technology.  Recommended actions will be carried out through existing multinational programs, such as the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, the GLOBE Program, the Program of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, and the Alliance for Sustainable Development of Central America, as appropriate.  These actions also will be coordinated with the agenda of future Summit of the Americas meetings,  such as the Bolivia Summit on Sustainable Development.  In support of these activities, the Ministers shall join forces to:

1. Promote research, at regional level, in the following strategic areas: tropical ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles; impact of climate change on biodiversity;  the "El Niño" phenomenon and variability in climate; ocean-atmosphere-land interaction in inter-tropical America;  comparative studies on oceanic, coastal and estuary processes in temperate zones;  small island ecosystems and low-lying coastal states;  comparative studies of temperate land ecosystems and high latitude processes;  and the social and economic implications of global environmental change, especially for agriculture, human health, fisheries and hydroelectricity.

2. Encourage a build-up in information systems on biodiversity. Exchange environmental information,  to the extent possible,  with the idea  of protecting   life and property, enhancing scientific research, and promoting planning for sustainable development.

3. Encourage  training in natural resource management, sustainable development and environmental management.

4. Promote joint research projects at hemispheric level in the field of biodiversity, recovery of degraded ecosystems, environmental monitoring,  and urban and rural environmental management.

5. Encourage public-private partnerships to develop and implement clean technologies that allow for  more efficient use of resources and by-products, for pollution control and for less environmental impact from discharged waste, as well as public-private partnerships to adopt pertinent standards, such as those concerning total environmental quality management.

6. Support research, technological development and monitoring processes related to the study, conservation and use of genetic resources.

7. Strengthen the International System for Agricultural Research,  coordinated by the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR),  along with regional and sub-regional systems (such as IICA and PROCIs),  giving special attention to the development of sustainable agricultural production and the management of fragile ecosystems. It is particularly important to strengthen interaction among the international, regional and national research systems working in this field.

8. Promote hemispheric cooperation in environmental science and educational programs to enhance the environmental awareness of individuals worldwide and to increase a scientific understanding of the Earth.

2.2.4           Development and Application of Information Technology

In the scientific and technological context of the Hemisphere,  the Ministers note the importance of facilitating access to new information technology and promoting its application to sustainable social and economic  development. They also recognize the importance of regulatory frameworks that facilitate access to information and to new information technologies. Therefore, the Ministers will join forces to:

1. Improve the development of national information infrastructures that permit optimal regional and international communication to ensure contact among the various sectors involved in scientific and technological activities.

2. Promote  broad dissemination of research results in different fields,  through intensive use of new information technology and  the creation of databases.

3. Encourage the countries of the region be become actively involved in building,  designing and standardizing the Global Information Infrastructure, advocate their interconnection through global networks, such as  Internet,  and strengthen  regional networks,  such as RedHUCyT.  Facilitate access to existing and emerging information technologies.

4. Promote the diffusion and adoption of  information technology in corporate  sectors, so as to increase productivity, improve competitiveness and support job creation, with  special attention to small and medium-sized enterprises. 

5. Encourage the development of initiatives, at  regional level,  to apply information technology to health,  education and the fulfillment of basic needs.

2.3         Measures to Ensure the Effective Participation of Small and Relatively  Lesser  Developed  Countries

Small and relatively lesser developed countries face a gap between their scientific and technological capacity and that of the more advanced countries in the region.  This gap tends to widen with the appearance of new technologies, such as information technology,  microelectronics, biotechnology,  new materials and clean technology.  As a result, the small and relatively lesser developed countries must mount an intensive effort to design and implement policies and strategies that are commensurate with their size and stage of development and will enable them to improve the competitiveness of their production sectors and generate new opportunities for employment on a continuous basis.  To this end,  specific policies for hemispheric and regional cooperation should be defined to strengthen the scientific and technology capacity of these countries, thereby creating  realistic conditions for access to cooperative programs and for benefiting  effectively from their results.  Therefore,  the Ministers shall join forces  to:

1. Ensure that  bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs include policies to facilitate access and effective participation for the small and relatively lesser developed countries.

2. Request IDB to consider supporting  scientific and technological development projects in small and relatively lesser developed countries,  inasmuch as a lack of  scientific and technological capacity seriously hampers innovation.

3. Ask  the Permanent Council of MERCOCYT to organize a specialized forum,  within the framework of the OAS Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI),   to analyze and agree on how resources can raised to support the scientific and technological development plans of small and relatively lesser developed countries.

4. Recommend increased support from  hemispheric cooperation programs for  the sub-regional science and technology organizations of small and relatively lesser developed countries, such as the Scientific and Technological Development Commission for Central America and Panama (CTCAP), the Caribbean Council for Science and Technology (CCST), and the Southern Countries,  seeking to improve their operating capacity and efficiency,  as well as their capacity for technical assistance.

5. Ask the OAS to give special consideration to the small and relatively lesser developed countries when implementing its integrated development policy, so as  to promote the scientific and technological development of these countries.

3.       Implementation  Mechanisms

3.1         Funding Strategy to Implement this Plan of Action

Cooperation in science and technology is a necessity in the contemporary world.  This is due  to the emergence of global problems that must be tackled jointly,  to  increasing interdependence among countries,  and to the importance of transnational networks to    generate and disseminate knowledge.  At the same time, we  face a  change in financing arrangements for hemispheric cooperation,  brought on by  the depletion of  traditional funding patterns.  It is, therefore, necessary to develop innovative funding approaches to support hemispheric cooperation in this field.

The Ministers will work  to develop an integrated funding strategy to implement this plan.  It will be based on three concepts:  cooperation founded  on mutual benefit,  diversification of funding sources,  and the  “partnership” concept,  wherein parties with a direct interest in results take part in joint programs for scientific and technological development.

This integrated funding strategy seeks to mobilize four complementary sources of financing:

1. Participating governments and institutions:  Governments and institutions that participate in a collaborative program should contribute to its cost; governments should review their investments in science and technology with respect to collaborative programs of this type.

2. Multilateral banks:  Multilateral banks have played an important role in establishing and consolidating national scientific and technological capacity throughout the Hemisphere.  These  institutions are requested to increase their participation in national, multinational and international/regional institutes or programs, which could include loans to the private sector. The Regional Fund for Agricultural Research and Technological Development is an example.

3. Private sector:  Involvement of the private sector in financing research and technological activities should be promoted.

4. Special funding mechanisms:  A special funding mechanism could play a key role in promoting regional cooperation, in including smaller countries with fewer resources,  and in exploring  new areas of interest.

When defining the new funding mechanisms of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI),  the relevant bodies of the OAS are requested to consider establishing mechanisms that facilitate voluntary contributions to specific programs or activities, which   could originate with  the member countries,  for cooperation programs in science and technology,  with the idea of  improving the financial administration of these programs and the quality of the services they provide.  CIDI is also requested to adopt  measures to ensure that OAS member countries can allocate resources for  the implementation and execution of actions adopted by this and possible future hemispheric meetings of Ministers responsible for science and technology.

3.2         Follow-up Mechanisms to Implement this Plan of  Action

o ensure  follow-up and monitoring of the actions and recommendations adopted in this Plan of Action,  the Ministers petition the MERCOCYT Permanent Council to establish an Executive Committee to put these recommendations into effect.  In order to guarantee that the  opinion of  scientific and technological communities is taken into account invariably by  the proposed Executive Committee, the Ministers ask MERCOCYT to draw upon the expertise of these communities, when appropriate. The proposed Executive Committee is also encouraged to consider the establishment of ad-hoc task forces in priority areas, whose membership could include members of the scientific community and users of science and technology in the region.  The Ministers ask  the Secretary General of the OAS to consider providing the resources required by  the Technical Secretariat of MERCOCYT - located in  the Department of Scientific and Technological Affairs -  to fulfill  these new responsibilities.

As directed by the Heads of State and Government participating in the Miami Summit,  the Ministers explored the possibility of establishing a council on science and technology.  It was decided that diverse science and technology needs of the Hemisphere would best be served by periodic science and technology ministerial meetings held approximately every three years,  or as needed,  based on a demonstrated significant demand from actual users of science and technology in the Hemisphere,  and on identification of an   important  value the Ministers can add to the promotion of  hemispheric cooperation in this area.  The Ministers request the assistance of the Secretary General of the OAS in organizing future ministerial meetings,  within the context of the new CIDI,  and  in providing support for  the implementation of decisions adopted at this and future meetings.

GLOSSARY