Science Policy in the Developing Countries: the Role of the Multinational Firm

Abstract

One of the striking features of the evolution of the developing countries in the last ten years has been the substantial increase in their research and development (R. & D.) expenditures. Forecasts for the present decade show that this trend is accelerating: Latin American countries are planning to increase their R. & D. expenditures by 15 per cent per year, and several countries are preparing to devote 1 per cent of their gross national product to R. & D. by 1980.¹ Alongside with this one can observe a rapid build-up of specialised government bodies such as science ministries and science advisory councils. The assumption underlying these developments is that scientific research taken in the widest sense² can make an important contribution to economic growth, and therefore has an important role to play in any development strategy. Another factor which should not be overlooked is that research is a status symbol which no country, however underdeveloped, can afford not to have.