jamaica’s innovation infrastructure: a …€™s innovation... · sources: economic and social...

JAMAICA’S INNOVATION JAMAICA’S INNOVATION

INFRASTRUCTURE: A INFRASTRUCTURE: A

COMPARATIVE ANALYSISCOMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Richard KellyRichard Kelly

Planning Institute of JamaicaPlanning Institute of Jamaica

SRC’sSRC’s S&T Conference 2006S&T Conference 2006


INFRASTRUCTURE: A COMPARATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE: A COMPARATIVE

ANALYSISANALYSIS

How does Jamaica’s innovation How does Jamaica’s innovation

infrastructure compare with that of infrastructure compare with that of

other Small Island Developing States other Small Island Developing States

(SIDS) and developed countries? (SIDS) and developed countries?

Pertinent question in light of the Pertinent question in light of the

expressed goal of policy makers for expressed goal of policy makers for

Jamaica to attain first world status in 20 Jamaica to attain first world status in 20

years. years.



ANALYSISANALYSIS

This paper seeks to answer this question This paper seeks to answer this question

by comparing aspects of the innovation by comparing aspects of the innovation

infrastructure in Jamaica with those of infrastructure in Jamaica with those of

Singapore, Norway and other Caribbean Singapore, Norway and other Caribbean

Single Market (CSM) countries such as Single Market (CSM) countries such as

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.



ANALYSISANALYSIS

Five quantitative indicators are compared: Five quantitative indicators are compared:

adult literacy; adult literacy;

expenditure on education; expenditure on education;

percentage of tertiary graduates; percentage of tertiary graduates;

expenditure on Research and expenditure on Research and

Development (R&D) Development (R&D)

number of resident patents filed. number of resident patents filed.

What is Innovation?What is Innovation?

Innovation is the conversion of Innovation is the conversion of

knowledge and ideas into tangible or knowledge and ideas into tangible or

intangible products, processes and intangible products, processes and

services which may be for commercial services which may be for commercial

use, or for the public good. use, or for the public good.


INFRASTRUCTUREINFRASTRUCTURE

increased expenditure on R&D (from 0.1 increased expenditure on R&D (from 0.1

per cent of GDP to 0.3 per cent per cent of GDP to 0.3 per cent

representing a 57 per cent increase representing a 57 per cent increase

between 2001 and 2004) between 2001 and 2004)

award of the National Medal for Science award of the National Medal for Science

and Technology by the Prime Ministerand Technology by the Prime Minister

establishment and capitalization of two establishment and capitalization of two

fundsfunds



Promotion of entrepreneurship Promotion of entrepreneurship

The introduction of the National Innovation The introduction of the National Innovation Awards for Science and Technology; Awards for Science and Technology;

The National Quality Awards Programme; The National Quality Awards Programme;

Expansion of the Information and Expansion of the Information and Communications Technology infrastructureCommunications Technology infrastructure

R&D in some ministries and main tertiary R&D in some ministries and main tertiary institutionsinstitutions



Improved Intellectual Property Rights Improved Intellectual Property Rights

SystemSystem

Improvement in the policy environmentImprovement in the policy environment

S&T policy submitted to ParliamentS&T policy submitted to Parliament

NCST legislation tabledNCST legislation tabled

Tax exemptions on purchase of R&D Tax exemptions on purchase of R&D

equipmentequipment

Singapore’s Innovation Singapore’s Innovation InfrastrucutureInfrastrucuture

Singapore’s innovation policy and strategySingapore’s innovation policy and strategy

includes: includes:

Foreign Direct Investment Foreign Direct Investment

Venture capital financing through publicVenture capital financing through public--

private partnerships private partnerships

publicly funded secondment of research publicly funded secondment of research

scientists and engineers into firms scientists and engineers into firms

development of S&T/R&D clustersdevelopment of S&T/R&D clusters

Norway’s Innovation InfrastructureNorway’s Innovation Infrastructure

a strong innovation policy; a strong innovation policy;

tax incentives and subsidies for R&D by private tax incentives and subsidies for R&D by private firms; firms;

development of supporting physical and development of supporting physical and electronic infrastructure; electronic infrastructure;

building knowledge capacity building knowledge capacity

strong government support for the transition strong government support for the transition from idea to commercialisation. from idea to commercialisation.

Promotion of entrepreneurship; revising and Promotion of entrepreneurship; revising and improving innovation systems and increasing improving innovation systems and increasing the number of researchers in R&D. the number of researchers in R&D.

SocioSocio--economic indicatorseconomic indicators

Selected SocioSelected SocioSelected SocioSelected Socio----economic indicators in Selected Countries, 2005economic indicators in Selected Countries, 2005economic indicators in Selected Countries, 2005economic indicators in Selected Countries, 2005

67578.016,8007.01.06Trinidad and Tobago

313010.717,3004.10.28Barbados

5252.528,1006.44.50Singapore

1214.642,3003.94.60Norway

609811.54,4001.42.60Jamaica

Global Competitive Index Rank

HDI Rank

Unemployment rate (%)

Per capita GDP (US$)

Real GDP

growth rate (%)

Population(million)

Country

Sources: Economic and Social Survey Jamaica, 2005, CIA World Fact Book, 2005, Global

Competitiveness Report, 2006,

Human Development Report, 2005, Singapore Department of Statistics.

Education VariablesEducation VariablesKey Educational Variables in Selected Countries, 2005

n/an/a4.398.5Trinidad and Tobago

n/an/a7.399.7Barbados

8.31.26.188.0Jamaica

255.03.595.0Singapore

4014.07.6100Norway

Tertiary education (% of population)

Average per capita expenditure per student (US$ ‘000’)

Public Expenditure on Education (% of GDP)

Adult Literacy (%)Country

Source: Human Development Report, 2005, Education Fact Sheet, 2005, Ministry of Education

Singapore, Population Census, Jamaica 2001, UNICEF, Country Reports, 2005, OECD Tertiary

Review, Norway, 2006.

3027.5

19

34

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

% of

education

budget

Singapore Norway Jamaica Barbados

Countries

Expenditure on Tertiary Education in Selected

Countries

Research & DevelopmentResearch & DevelopmentExpenditure on R&D and Researchers in R&D, 2005Expenditure on R&D and Researchers in R&D, 2005Expenditure on R&D and Researchers in R&D, 2005Expenditure on R&D and Researchers in R&D, 2005

8941.7World

32732.3Developed Countries

4, 7452.15Singapore

4,5871.8Norway

2610.6Latin America and the Caribbean

n/a0.3Jamaica

Number of researchers Number of researchers

in R&D (per million in R&D (per million

persons)persons)

R&D Expenditure R&D Expenditure

(% GDP)(% GDP)CountryCountry

Source: World Development Report, 2006, S&T Indicators Report, 2005,

UNESCO Science Report, 2005

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

In 2004, resident patent filings per million people in In 2004, resident patent filings per million people in Norway were 335, 147 for Singapore Norway were 335, 147 for Singapore

Patent filings for Jamaica over the five year period Patent filings for Jamaica over the five year period (2000(2000--2005) totaled 23 per million people 2005) totaled 23 per million people

Patents last for 20 years in Singapore and Norway Patents last for 20 years in Singapore and Norway

14 years in Jamaica with option to renew for another 7 14 years in Jamaica with option to renew for another 7 yearsyears

Norway and Singapore have both signed on to the Norway and Singapore have both signed on to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and have filed Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and have filed significant patent applications. Jamaica is not a member significant patent applications. Jamaica is not a member of the PCT. of the PCT.

BarriersBarriers

Some of the barriers stifling innovation Some of the barriers stifling innovation

include:include:

Lack of STI cultureLack of STI culture

Inadequate science educationInadequate science education

Unavailability of R&D fundingUnavailability of R&D funding

3 0712 1962 6132 5092 5022 368Physics

15 95815 48916 98317 12416 55816 095Mathematics

6 5455 3606 0184 6283 8233 538Information Technology

3 5972 5752 9052 6462 4692 471Chemistry

4 6613 6984 0693 7793 6103 696Biology

Award)

358324295397314280Agricultural Science (Double

Award)

6766535941 2631 043935Agricultural Science (Single

200520042003200220012000SUBJECT

Number Of Jamaican Students Sitting Selected S&T Subjectsat the General Proficiency Level, Caribbean Examination Council,

2000-2005

RecommendationsRecommendations

Jamaica must create a scientific and Jamaica must create a scientific and

technological culture where technology technological culture where technology

is not only consumed but created. is not only consumed but created.

There should be strong links among There should be strong links among

research bodies, tertiary institutions research bodies, tertiary institutions

and industry to stimulate innovation and industry to stimulate innovation

and boost economic development. and boost economic development.

Recommendations Recommendations con’tdcon’td

Government funding for R&D, should be Government funding for R&D, should be increased to at least 1 per cent of GDP in increased to at least 1 per cent of GDP in medium to long term and then to at least 2 medium to long term and then to at least 2 per cent in the long term to be on par with per cent in the long term to be on par with developed countries. developed countries.

Forging strong, sustainable publicForging strong, sustainable public--private private sector partnerships is essential for sector partnerships is essential for stimulating, funding and maintaining R&D. stimulating, funding and maintaining R&D.

There should be continued emphasis on There should be continued emphasis on stimulating the growth of small and medium stimulating the growth of small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurshipenterprises and entrepreneurship

ConclusionConclusion

Jamaica has made strides in stimulating Jamaica has made strides in stimulating innovationinnovation

However there are gaps that must be However there are gaps that must be addressed if Jamaica wants to achieve addressed if Jamaica wants to achieve developed status by 2030.developed status by 2030.

The countries within the CSM requires The countries within the CSM requires openness, new skills, innovation and creation openness, new skills, innovation and creation and transfer of technology which will allow and transfer of technology which will allow countries to successfully compete globally and countries to successfully compete globally and enjoy high standards of living.enjoy high standards of living.

jamaica’s innovation infrastructure: a …€™s innovation... · sources: economic and social...

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