Latin America Defines Roadmap for Innovation

A declaration that emerged from the meeting of the South American Council of Education, Culture, Science, Technology and Innovation (Coseccti), which operates under the Union of South America Nations (UNASUR), committed the ministers and secretaries of Science in Latin America to prioritize the development and strengthening of biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology and communications, renewable energy and biodiversity. The ministers from these 16 countries also pledged to cooperate to strengthen their national science, technology and innovation to create economic and social development in the region. This “roadmap” for innovation will, in 2011, include a regional trade fair for technological innovation, in which governments and scientists will interact with society and share knowledge. The governments of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina will form a committee to free access to specialized information.