About the compendium and this website
There is palpable enthusiasm among leaders in the Latin American and Caribbean region for innovative technological solutions to old and new challenges. Inspired by the growing demand for empirical assessment of both recent progress and new opportunities , the division has compiled a Statistical Compendium of Indicators on Science, Technology and Innovation that focuses on the region and yet provides some benchmark comparisons with leading and emerging economies. The compendium glances back over the last decade and reports on human capital and financial inputs into the innovation systems, scientific and innovation outputs, innovative behavior by firms, changes in economic structure, technological intensity, growth, institutional development and public policy, and the status of one key cross-cutting and enabling technological revolution: information and communication technology.
Why Did We Include QR Codes?
In an effort to highlight some of the results in a manner that is itself innovative, we invite you to explore some of our most compelling findings through dynamic interactive graphs. The quick response (QR) codes that you see in your compendium are designed to transport you via your computer’s web cam to augmented reality. This serves as a reminder that technology is increasingly surrounding us and it can enhance our experience though virtual mechanisms that allow us view statistical information in three dimensions rather than two and in real time. As the user, you can manipulate variables and change other aspects of the graphs as it suits your interests. These dynamic and interactive graphs are accompanied by a video narrated by an expert from the division, who will explain the meaning behind the underlying data that you see on your screen.
About us
The Science and Technology Division at the Inter-American Development Bank supports countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in their efforts to become knowledge-based economies through increased investment in science, technology and innovation (STI), as a means to improve productivity and reduce poverty and inequality.
To learn more about the Science and Technology division at the IDB, please visit our homepage at www.iadb.org/tech.
