Revista de la Mañana. Creación del Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación: Gobernanza para el conocimiento

Abstract

Senator Iván Darío Agudelo (Liberal Party), the author of the legislative project, explains that the creation of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation seeks to overcome the limitations of Colciencias, which had become obsolete and lacked sufficient governance. The primary objective is to grant science a permanent seat in the Council of Ministers, a recognition long overdue in Colombia and vital within the globally competitive "economy and era of knowledge." This new entity is seen as a necessity for the country to stop losing ground in competitiveness rankings and to fully leverage its potential. Senator Agudelo emphasizes that the key is governance, not bureaucracy, aiming to articulate, systematize, and integrate the currently atomized research efforts and budgets of various ministries into a robust system, driven by the conviction that "countries are wealthy because they do science."

The establishment of the Ministry, which will come into effect and begin its structuring phase within one year, aims to generate a "cultural and mental disruption" to boost national confidence. The project highlights the importance of creating positive role models and preventing "brain drain"—talented individuals who seek opportunities abroad due to a lack of recognition and respect at home. Although concerns regarding politicization and budget allocation exist, the Senator assures that the project received unanimous approval from Congress—an exceptional feat—demonstrating that this issue transcends political affiliations. Furthermore, the goal is for the State to foster the necessary conditions for private sector investment, thereby stimulating the economy. This is considered an essential step for Colombia to transition from exporting raw natural resources to transforming them through knowledge, following the example of prosperous nations that have invested heavily in science