National scientific policies in Latin America: The case of Ecuador and Colombia

Abstract

National policies critically affect the results of scientific production and communication in Latin American countries. Currently, these countries are developing and adapting to the assessment and quality schemes that have existed for some time in other advanced countries in the field of science. Political and economic conditions in Latin America have been favorable in the last five years, although only a few Latin American countries have taken advantage of this situation. In this paper public policies in science in Ecuador and Colombia are analyzed. The objective is to stimulate scientific production and enhance the overall research ecosystem of these two countries. The findings focus primarily on the differences detected in their respective investment policies, their higher education systems, and the volume and quality of their scientific production.