Science and Technology

1. First Summit of the Americas, Miami, U.S.A. (December 1994)

The Miami Summit identified a need to increase interaction and cooperation among the region’s science and technology ("S&T") infrastructure and mechanisms. Initiative 14, which set out the hemisphere’s S&T objectives, also called for the assistance of GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment), an initiative launched by U.S. Vice-President Gore. Miami also called for the promotion of the Bolivar Program, and the OAS’ Common Market of Scientific and Technical Knowledge (MERCOCYT) program, in order to increase partnerships and technological S&T ventures. The Summit also called for enhanced professional technical training, development and implementation of national policies and regional programs, dissemination and standardization of S&T (including metrology and other technical norms), environmental technology development, and more effective partnerships to promote learning and competitiveness.

The Heads of State in Miami also mandated that ministers responsible for S&T should meet to assess progress, promote the Bolivar Program and MERCOCYT and provide the support needed to improve partnerships and technological ventures throughout the hemisphere. This meeting would also facilitate ongoing dialogue and progress.

2. Between the Summits (January 1995- March 1998)

The first such ministerial meeting was set for Cartagena, Colombia, in March of 1996. Representatives of the OAS, IDB, and UNESCO attended. The Meeting resulted in a Declaration of Principles, as well as a Plan of Action, which included 43 specific commitments over a vast array of areas. The Principles set out to increase cooperation in S&T in the hemisphere. In addition, countries are encouraged to formulate national policies for development in the area, to address critical areas such as improving human resources and technological innovation, and applying such improvements to sustainable and equitable development. Finally, the Ministers committed to assure the effective participation of small and less developed economies. With respect to the latter, MERCOCYT was requested to organize a special forum within the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI) within the framework of the OAS. MERCOCYT has since become very active in support of the hemispheric initiatives. 4 Meetings were held (in June of 1996, October, 1996, May, 1997, and October, 1997) in various locations.

Other initiatives in the S&T which were initiated between the two hemispheric summits include:

• a Regional Agricultural Fund, established in 1996 under the IDB, which is expected to generate $10 million annually to finance agricultural technology research and development, as well as sustainable use of natural resources;
• The Ibero-American Program for Science and Technology (CYTED), which has commenced numerous projects involving about 200 scientists and technologists from the hemisphere;
• The establishment of the Inter-American Institute for Social Development, whose main objectives are human resource training on the management of social development projects and programs;
• The Science and Technology Task Force (that includes Canada, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Mexico and the U.S.) of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, which has recommended the establishment of the Pacific Rim Network that, it is hoped, will increase strategic alliances and commercial/ technological trade among Western hemisphere Pacific Rim countries;
• Cooperation to develop climatic forecasting tools through the Inter-American Institute for Global Change research and the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction, which has been instrumental in building an understanding of El Nino’s impact on the world;
• The National Science Foundation, which has shared information through the internet and developed research centres, in addition to working with the OAS to develop common instruments for S&T indicators;
• The U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) has developed a web site, and collaborative projects, that are geared to biotechnology and health issues;
• GLOBE has been expanded to include several summit countries; and
• the inception of electronic systems for data exchange.

Other organizations and initiatives that have been active in the S&T field include:

• The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), USAID, and The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA);
• The Inter-American Geospatial Data Network (IGDN);
• The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA);
• SIMBIOSIS.

Several workshops and seminars were also held to advance the S&T agenda. These included:

• The Second Iberian-American Workshop on Science and Technology Indicators (Cartagena, Colombia, April 1996);
• A Workshop on Methodology for Producing Science and Technology Indicators (Brazil, May, 1996);
• A Course-Workshop on Innovation Indicators (Bogota, Colombia, February, 1997); and
• A Seminar-Workshop on Hemispheric Competitiveness (Bogota, Colombia, April, 1997).