Challenges in Science, Tech, and Innovation in Latin America

In response to my recent publication on the job opportunities that come with pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) career in Latin America, I received a variety of feedback from professionals working in the science, technology, and innovation (STI) sector across the region. Naturally, opinions varied, with some in favor and others opposed. As the saying goes, “Everyone tells the story from their own perspective.”

After carefully reviewing the comments, I decided not to ignore the concerns of those who openly disagree with the idea that a STEM career can lead to better job prospects. This prompted me to delve into the challenges faced by the various stakeholders driving the STI sector in Latin America. When I refer to stakeholders, I mean scientists, universities, funding and promotion institutions, and tech-based entrepreneurs, among others.

In collaboration with Dr. Luisa Echeverría-King, a social scientist with a Ph.D. in Education and an expert consultant on higher education, scientific diplomacy, and capacity building in science, technology, and innovation in Latin America, we conducted an insightful reflection on the positive and negative factors impacting the STI sector in the region. This exercise was akin to a SWOT analysis, albeit less formal and deep. Together, let’s explore these fascinating insights that I shared with Dr. Echeverría-King.

Opportunities

Latin America is emerging as a vast “blue ocean” of unprecedented opportunities for the STI sector. With a market of over 600 million consumers, the region offers exceptional growth potential. The population as a whole needs access to locally developed, innovative technologies at affordable prices. This fertile ground is attractive for governments and STI promotion institutions to manage cross-border or external funding to drive research and disruptive innovation projects that are both locally responsible and transdisciplinary, thereby accelerating the development of the regional technology ecosystem.

In this collaborative environment, new pathways are opening for sector leaders to spearhead scientific and technological advances, positioning Latin America as a global innovation hub. However, what is sorely lacking is leadership and everything it entails. Leadership means taking risks and accepting responsibilities, and many scientists in the region lack role models and mentors in this regard. Local scientific entrepreneurs who can bridge the gap between research and innovation are increasingly called upon to take on these leadership roles and dive into the fray, bringing along other rebels and revolutionaries tired of traditional career paths in science.

Strengths

One of the major strengths of the STI sector in Latin America is the availability of highly qualified human resources. A significant percentage of these professionals have received top-tier training at the world’s most prestigious universities, acquiring cutting-edge knowledge and experiences that are crucial for steering the sector in the right direction. This scientific diaspora returns to their home countries with strong international ties, facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange, and bringing with them innovative ideas, advanced technologies, efficient work methods, global contact networks, and, in many cases, funding.

In this regard, strategic alliances emerge, seeking to unite local and international efforts to drive transformation. A key concept within these strategic alliances in the research and development (R&D) field is that of “tiger teams.” These teams are multidisciplinary and highly specialized groups formed by professionals from diverse areas with complementary skills, capable of tackling complex challenges and developing innovative solutions quickly and effectively.

Another notable strength is the predominance of common language, which defines Latin America as a unified region. This linguistic and cultural cohesion facilitates communication among sector stakeholders, enhances scientific mobility, energizes the business ecosystem, and improves the coordination of intra-regional projects.

Weaknesses

Despite Latin America’s potential for consumption and its gross domestic product (GDP) representing 7.2% of the global total, the region’s weaknesses hinder the rapid development of the STI sector. The main barrier is the low investment in science. Latin America records an average annual investment in STI of just 0.65% of its GDP, according to World Bank data. Brazil leads the region in investment, surpassing the historical 1% threshold that countries like Mexico, Colombia and Argentina have been unable to overcome. To put these numbers in context, Germany, with a population of 83 million, invests an average of 3.0% of its GDP annually in science and technology, and the country is part of the G8 group of the world’s largest economies.

The lack of investment in STI in the region prevents the ecosystem from growing and reaching its expected potential. This is perhaps the most critical issue, and one that sector stakeholders have been fighting for historically without success. In the past year, Colombia reduced its investment in STI by around 20%, falling well below the average investment in Latin America.

Threats

The primary threat is the region’s political instability. This creates an unpredictable environment that discourages long-term investment and hinders the implementation of robust public policies independent of the government in power. The political agenda ends up affecting the strengthening of the government in power, and the strengthening of the scientific and technological ecosystem, as it does with other sectors of the economy.

Multidimensional poverty in Latin American countries is another significant threat. It limits access to quality education and reduces the STEM talent pool available to the sector. This situation is exacerbated by the brain drain, where highly skilled professionals, tired of obstacles and the lack of clear sustainable public policies, leave their countries in search of better opportunities abroad. This deprives the region of highly qualified human capital necessary to drive innovation and technological development and to compete globally and reach its full potential.

Conclusions

From disparities in STI investment to brain drain, Latin America is in a constant struggle to close the technology gap and become a hub of prosperous and sustainable development. Historically, Latin America has been “distracted” in the STI sector, looking north with hope, while ignoring its own capabilities to propose and bring to the table scientific and technological solutions tailored to its context and other emerging countries.

Beyond playing the victim, Dr. Echeverría-King and I call for action to remove the magical veil of “lack of resources” and start doing what is imperative: coming together to be better and stronger. What happens in the STI sector will undoubtedly shape the region’s economic and social future. In this way, we might finally cease being “Cinderella wanting to attend the ball of developed countries,” as Colombian scientist Rodolfo Llinás once eloquently put it.