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UNITED N ATIONS CONFERENC E ON T RADE A ND D EVELOPMENT Science, Technology & Innovation Policy Review Dominican Republic New York and Geneva, 2012 ii Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review - Dominican Republic Explanatory note Unless otherwise indicated, “US$” and “dollars” refer to United States dollars. “Pesos” refers to Dominican pesos, except where otherwise indicated. Because amounts are sometimes rounded off, partial data and percentages presented in tables do not always add up to the same total. Document translated into English by Mr. Charles Akin UNCTAD/DTL/STICT/2012/1 © Copyright United Nations 2012 All rights reserved PREFACE iii PREFACE The goal of the science, technology and innovation policy reviews prepared by UNCTAD is to contribute to the development of national capacities in this field in order that national science, technology and innovation (STI) plans and programmes effectively contribute to development strategies and improve the competitiveness of the productive sectors in a global economy in which knowledge is an increasingly important factor. Thus, STI measures will promote growth, lead to a productive diversification strategy and contribute to the creation of better-paid jobs, higher levels of welfare and poverty alleviation. This review is intended to be a tool for learning and reflection, not a rating mechanism but an analytical instrument that examines a set of proposals from an external and neutral viewpoint. This document has three fundamental goals: first, to offer the Government and Dominican society an up-dated diagnosis of the effectiveness of STI policies, programmes and instruments; second, to facilitate the strengthening of those policies and measures by integrating them into the national development process; and third, to contribute to improve technological capacity, encourage innovation and incorporate greater added value into production. This review of science, technology and innovation policies of the Dominican Republic was made in response to a request of the Government of the Dominican Republic and has received the support of the Ministry for Higher Education, Science and Technology. The review was prepared by a team of experts under the direction of Anne Miroux, Director of the UNCTAD Division on Technology and Logistics and under the direct supervision of Mongi Hamdi, Head of the Science, Technology and ICT Branch. The following members of the UNCTAD Secretariat contributed to this document: Ángel González Sanz, Lea Masin and Marta Pérez Cusó. The team of experts also included Sebastián Rovira of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the consultants Juana Kuramoto, Doroteo Rodríguez and José Luís Solleiro. During visits to the Dominican Republic, the team held near 100 interviews and meetings with representatives of governmental agencies, research institutes, universities, trade unions, chambers of commerce, businesses and non-governmental organizations. On 15 September 2011, a national workshop was held at Santo Domingo with the participation of more than 80 experts and national actors in the field of science, technology and innovation (STI). An initial draft of this document was presented during that workshop, permitting the taking into account of a large variety of comments and suggestions. This review would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Ministry for Higher Education, Science and Technology, in particular that of Minister Mtra. Ligia Amada Melo de Cardona and the Vice-Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Diógenes Aybar, and his team whom the UNCTAD Secretariat warmly thanks for their commitment to the project’s success. Gratitude is also extended to all participants in the national workshop and to the persons and entities, too numerous to be listed, that generously gave their time and ideas. Naturally, the assessments, opinions and conclusions expressed in this document are attributable exclusively to the UNCTAD secretariat. CONTENTS v CONTENTS Preface ...............................................................................................................................................iii Abbreviations .....................................................................................................................................ix CHAPTER I. G ENERAL BACKGROUND OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN THE DOMINICAN ECONOMY ......................................... 1 A. Evolution of the Dominican economy ................................................................................... 2 B. Infrastructure and business environment ............................................................................ 8 C. Human development ........................................................................................................... 10 D. Performance in science, technology and innovation ......................................................... 12 E. Conclusions ......................................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER II. THE NATIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM ..............................................................23 A. Conceptual notes ................................................................................................................. 24 B. Actors of the innovation system ......................................................................................... 27 C. Linkages between various actors ....................................................................................... 36 D. Governance of the science, technology and innovation ................................................... 38 E. National science, technology and innovation policies ...................................................... 39 F. Instruments for science, technology and innovation......................................................... 42 G. Links between innovation policies and other policies ...................................................... 45 H. The effectiveness of the Dominican innovation system .................................................... 45 I. Conclusions and recommendations ................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER III. S CIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN AGRICULTURE AND AGRO-INDUSTRY ..............................................................................................51 A. The national system of agricultural and forestry research................................................ 52 B. Institutions with potential for innovation in this sector ..................................................... 54 C. Strengths and weaknesses for generating innovation ...................................................... 55 D. Analysis of biotechnological capacity ................................................................................ 57 E. Biosecurity ........................................................................................................................... 60 F. Intellectual property ............................................................................................................. 60 G. Human resources for agricultural biotechnology .............................................................. 62 H. Cooperation and strategic biotechnological alliances ...................................................... 63 I. Conclusions and recommendations ................................................................................... 63 CHAPTER IV. S CIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN HEALTH ...........................67 A. The need for innovation in healthcare ................................................................................ 68 B. The priority of research and innovation in the health sector ............................................ 71 C. The pharmaceutical industry .............................................................................................. 73 D. Ties with the national innovation system ........................................................................... 78 vi Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review - Dominican Republic E. Conclusiones y recomendaciones ...................................................................................... 78 CHAPTER V. S CIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ........................................ 81 A. Analysis of the situation ...................................................................................................... 82 B. Sources and users of energy .............................................................................................. 83 C. Activity of the national innovation system in renewable energies .................................... 83 D. Promotion of innovation in renewable energies ................................................................ 86 E. Conclusions and recommendations ................................................................................... 92 Annex ........................................................................................................................................ 95 CHAPTER VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................97 BIBLIOGRAPHY .....................................................................................................................................103 TABLES CHAPTER I 1. Main economic indicators (percentage and millions of dollars) ....................................................................................................