Panel Discussion: Science, Technology, and Innovation

At the meeting, the scientific and technological advancements in Uruguay and around the world were discussed, along with the challenges in investment, support for researchers, and policy development.

What are the global trends in science, technology, and innovation? What progress is being made in Uruguay, and what are the country's future challenges? These issues were examined and discussed by national and international experts during a new installment of the "Dialogues on the Future of Uruguay," a series promoted by the United Nations in Uruguay through its agencies, funds, and programs working in the country.

The event, led by UNESCO, took place on April 2 at the CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean Auditorium.

During the first segment, focused on "Advances in Science: Reality or Fiction?", Ernesto Fernández Polcuch, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo, presented the "Global Science Report: Global Trends." The report highlights growth in investment and the number of researchers worldwide but also underscores the disparity between countries and the urgency to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

To address this challenge, UNESCO proposes the adoption of open science as a new paradigm, not only to facilitate knowledge exchange among scientists but also to share infrastructure. Fernández Polcuch emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation tools for Uruguay in this context.

Another topic discussed was genomic editing in livestock. Alejo Menchaca, coordinator of the Animal Health Platform at INIA, pointed out that this technique offers an effective way to increase future production and meet the growing consumption demands due to the world's increasing population.

However, the focus is not just on producing more but on doing so sustainably. It was highlighted that intensive production systems are not viable in the long term, necessitating a complete rethink of the traditional livestock model.

Genomic editing, especially through technologies like CRISPR, is being used for this purpose. In Uruguay, research and developments are underway to make livestock more productive, resistant to diseases, and less vulnerable to pests such as the screw-worm fly. This technology is on track to transform the way food is produced in the country.

The risks and opportunities associated with artificial intelligence were also addressed during the event. Vanina Martínez, a researcher at IIIA-CSIC in Spain, emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in accessing knowledge and improving efficiency and productivity globally. However, she noted that currently only high-income countries and large corporations have access to the necessary resources, which gives them considerable influence in this field.

Among the concerns raised about the use of AI are the potential job losses and increased control and surveillance. UNESCO recommends the development of methodologies to address these and other ethical concerns to ensure the proper use of AI systems.

Dafna Feinholz, Head of Bioethics and Ethics of Science and Technology at UNESCO, highlighted that this issue is already being addressed with states for implementation in concrete policies. Additionally, she delved into neurotechnologies, which are truly revolutionary as they allow for an understanding of the nervous system and the modification of its functioning, proving useful for treating various diseases and mental disorders.

However, this advancement also brings the need to protect neuro-rights. In this regard, the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee has identified several ethical issues arising from biotechnology that must be addressed to avoid jeopardizing human rights, such as brain integrity, personal integrity, autonomy, mental privacy, and accessibility.

The dialogue also encouraged a debate on the development of science and technology and their influence on decision-making. Miguel Sierra, Manager of Innovation and Communication at INIA, emphasized the importance of uniting different initiatives into a comprehensive national development policy, with active participation from politicians, businesspeople, and academics. This involves the creation of technology-based companies and the promotion of agencies and public actors.

On the other hand, Carlos Batthyany, Executive Director of the Pasteur Institute of Montevideo, reflected on the most effective strategy to place science, technology, and innovation at the center of the country's development. He advocated for a long-term national agreement in this field, urging a rethink of spending allocations to avoid a future outside the system for the country.

Rodrigo Goñi, President of the Parliament's Future Committee, lamented the lack of political priority in this matter and criticized the lack of approval of the Patent Cooperation Treaty by the legislative body. Meanwhile, Ximena Usher, Manager of the Evaluation and Monitoring Unit at ANII, stressed the importance of understanding investment indicators to democratize the decision-making process and allow various stakeholders to have their voices and needs heard.

FUTURE CHALLENGES

Antonella Barletta, representing the Uruguayan Association of Postgraduates, emphasized the need for policies that improve the working conditions of researchers, advocating for job security as a means to prevent science in Uruguay from becoming an elitist activity limited to a small group of people.

For his part, Guillermo Anlló, Regional Specialist for UNESCO's Science and Technology Policy Program, presented a report highlighting the state of science and technology in Uruguay and the region. The indicators show that, of the Latin American countries, only Brazil exceeds 1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dedicated to research and development, whereas in countries with higher investment, this intensity is five times greater.

Although Uruguay is gradually increasing its spending on R&D, it is not doing so at a pace sufficient to keep up with global trends. In the country, the government sector plays a crucial role in financing these activities, and the university is the epicenter of research work. Therefore, one of the main challenges lies in fostering greater participation from the private sector.

In his conclusion, Alberto Majó, National Director of Innovation, Science, and Technology, highlighted the need to establish an institutional framework that mitigates problems and promotes better performance. An important challenge is to improve regional research, development, and innovation agendas, promoting greater presence and identification of R&D project demands in the interior of the country, and facilitating coordination among funding agencies, local authorities, the private sector, and the scientific and technological community. As for the strategy and support for innovation, a thorough evaluation and coordination of all available instruments are required.