Ibero-America invests only 0.73% of its economic resources in research and development

Investment in research and development (R&D) in Latin America continues to be a significant challenge, according to the annual report The State of Science 2024 of the Ibero-American Network of Science and Technology Indicators. This report, co-edited by the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI) and the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), offers a detailed analysis of the scientific and technological landscape in the region, highlighting both advances and persistent challenges.

In 2022, Ibero-American countries will allocate 166 billion dollars to R&D, which represents a growth of 42% compared to 2013. However, this investment is only equivalent to 0.73% of the gross regional product. In Latin America, the figure is even lower, standing at 0.56%. Brazil is the only country in the region that exceeds 1% of its GDP in investment in R&D.

Global comparison and regional concentration

At a global level, Ibero-America represented 4% of global investment in R&D in 2022while Latin America contributed with the 2.5%. These figures have decreased compared to 2013, due to significant growth in investment in Asian countries, which now represent 37.4% of global R&D investment.

Despite the stagnation in investment, The number of scientists in the region has increased considerably. In 2022, there were 642,383 researchers in Ibero-America, a notable increase from 442,835 in 2013. The majority of these researchers (46%) work in the higher education sector, followed by the business sector (33%) and public R&D institutions (19%). .

The quality of scientific production has also improved. In 2022, Latin American researchers published more than 198,000 items in the Scopus database, with a growth of 64% compared to previous years. Furthermore, 35% of these publications were international collaborations, highlighting the physical sciences as the area with the greatest cooperation.

Challenges in patents and intellectual property

The level of patenting in the region remains low. In 2022, were requested 1395 international patents in Latin America and 3024 in Latin America through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Furthermore, 83% of patent applications in the region’s intellectual property offices were made by non-residents, mainly foreign companies. Mexico, Chile and Argentina present the highest percentages of applications by non-residents, with Brazil showing a relatively lower percentage.

The State of Science 2024 includes a series of indicators selected from the RICYT database.

The total set, which covers 135 statistical series, can be visited at www.ricyt.org and is the product of the collaborative effort of the science and technology organizations of the twenty participating countries of the network, which provide the information displayed in the volume, as well as an extensive community of experts and international organizations.

*The report “The State of Science 2024” highlights the need to increase investment in R&D to promote scientific and technological development in Latin America. Despite advances in human resources and scientific production, the region faces significant challenges in terms of investment and patenting. International collaboration and the implementation of effective policies will be crucial to overcome these obstacles and foster sustainable growth in science and technology.