RICYT/CONACYT International Seminar on New Indicators of Science, Technology and Innovation SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INDICATORS IN JAMAICA: OBSTACLES TO

RICYT/CONACYT International Seminar on New Indicators of Science, Technology and Innovation

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INDICATORS IN JAMAICA: OBSTACLES TO THE EXPANSION OF THE SERIES

Merline E. Bardowell

Executive Director

National Commission on Science and Technology


Introduction Collection of S&T Indicators/S&T Infrastructure Science, Technology and Innovation Policies

and Plans S& T Indicators Being Collected Problems Being Encountered Addressing the Challenges

OVERVIEW


MAP OF JAMAICA


Breathtaking Dunn’s River Falls

JAMAICA


JAMAICAIsland In The Caribbean

LOCATION – Latitude 17 1/2o

and 18 1/20 north; Longitude 76 1/20 and 78 ½ 0 west

AREA of 11,424 sq. km. POPULATION – 2.7m and

multi-racial Major areas of ECONOMY –

Tourism, Agriculture, Mining, Manufacturing

Official LANGUAGE – English Major Asset – It’s People


Jamaica ‘s Strategic Focus for Growth & Development- Export Push through building and sustaining targeted

areas of competitive advantage

- Import substitution consistent with the focus on international competitiveness

Other imperatives- The Knowledge- based Economy- Globalization- Internal social problems- Sustainability of the Environment- Jamaica as an adopter of technologies

INTRODUCTION


COLLECTION OF S& T INDICATORS IN JAMAICA Organizational Responsibility - National Commission

on Science and Technology- statutory body chaired by the Prime Minister, with the mandate to foster and advance the policy and strategy for science and technology in Jamaica

Well poised – coordinates integrates and monitors S&T activities in Jamaica

S&T infrastructure fairly good - 44 institutions covering most areas of S&T


ORGANIZATION OF S&T IN JAMAICA


SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION POLICIES & PLANS

Good S&T Policy infrastructure – 1st in 1960 Second in 1990 Third S&T Policy – 2006 before Cabinet Sector policies – biotechnology (draft)

Biosafety, Energy, S&T Education, poverty Strategic Plan for S&T 2005 –2010 Jamaica 2030: National Development Plan –

including S&T sector – developed status by 2030 in progress


COLLECTION OF S&T INDICATORS Indicators being developed

Conventional – financial, HRST, patents, publications

NCST 5-Year Strategic Plan (2005-2010) - based on national priorities- to measure the collective performance of the S&T sector based on the objectives of the NCST – detailed later in presentation

Coverage – all public sector S&T institutions(44), universities ( 4), College (1) JIPO,CITO


COLLECTION CONT’D Frequency – annual Techniques – survey (mailed questionnaires

with follow-up); secondary sources (reports, estimates of expenditure), estimates in a few cases

Fields covered Basic and Applied Sciences including Engineering


SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INDICATORS BEING COLLECTED

Financial Resources Total Expenditure in Scientific and Technological

Activity (STA) Expenditure in STA by Financing Sector Expenditure in Research and Development (R&D) Expenditure in Research and Development by

Financing Sector Linkages with the Private Sector

Projects with the Private Sector


INDICATORS CONT’D Human Resources in Science and Technology

Post Secondary Students Graduating per year in Science, Mathematics and Engineering as % of All tertiary Students

# Trained S&T persons (per million people) employed locally in S&T

Science and Technology Personnel Science and Technology Personnel by

Gender Number of Engineers Researchers (Head Count)


INDICATORS CONT’D Researchers by Field of Science Researchers by Higher Education Number of Graduates degrees awarded by academic institutions

Scientific Production Patents Publications

S&T for Competitive and Profitable Businesses % increase of firms using new technology each year # of new products brought to market # of new services brought to market Technology creation: receipt of royalties & license fees (US$

per 100 people)


INDICATORS CONT’D

Population Understands the Importance of S&T % of population aware of the importance of

S&T Internet Users per 100 population

Dissemination of Knowledge and Information on S&T % of National databases with 24 hour

access % population accessing the national STIN


INDICATORS CONT’D Efficient, Impactful and Environmentally

Sustainable S&T Efforts # of companies with internationally certified

quality and environmental systems per year

% of renewable energy as % of total energy generation per year

# of plant species on the endangered species per year


INDICATORS CONT’D # of animal species on the endangered

species list per year # of new invasive species per year % of major effluents that are in compliance in the

harbours % of major urban and mining areas that are in

compliance with air quality standards High tech exports as a % of manufacturing exports Primary exports as % of Merchandise exports


PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED

Lack of funding and dedicated staff for this activity

Lack of adequately trained staff Low and/or lack of response from

institutions being surveyed Lack of appreciation by decision and policy

makers and planners as to the importance of S&T indicators – low demand adversely impacts development of indicators


PROBLEMS CONT’D Some required information and data not being

collected and maintained by providers Difficulty in obtaining data and information

from the private sector S&T indicators not included as part of the

formal national statistics Inadequate capacities of institutions

responding to surveys No specific point person assigned to collect

information and data Challenges in obtaining data from relevant

sections in institutions


PROBLEMS CON”TD Secondary sources, although useful, not always

published, sometimes not timely and data not always accurate

Budgets not disaggregated to identify specific S&T activities- time consuming to extract data

Lack of understanding by relevant entities as to the need to collect indicators identified – survey results not necessarily seen as important and may not be used

Not enough use of information to inform decisions, policy and planning


ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES Address the National Challenges

Identify funding and dedicated staff for regular construction and tracking of indicators

Implement mechanisms to sensitize decision and policy-makers, planners and providers of information on the importance of S&T indicators e.g workshops, marketing of indicators

Training of personnel for the collection, analysis and construction of indicators

Make provision of information mandatory and bring on board indicators not presently being collected


ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES

Organize for indicators to be part of national statistics

Make better use of estimates in the process

Get involvement of private sector Make indicators relevant and impactful with

regards to national priorities


ADDRESING THE CHALLENGES

Regional Level English Speaking Caribbean –focal point

Address the fact that Caribbean countries lagging behind

Similarity of concerns Implement strategies to address language

barriers, better sharing of information and experience among all the countries in the network


THANK YOUMerline E. BardowellExecutive DirectorNational Commission on Science and

TechnologyOffice of the Prime Minister1 Devon Road, Kingston 10Tel: 920 1488 Fax: 960 8407Email: [email protected];

website:www.ncst.gov.jm

Documents

RICYT/CONACYT International Seminar on New Indicators of Science, Technology and Innovation SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INDICATORS IN JAMAICA: OBSTACLES TO