Mexico seeks to establish its science, technology and innovation system, where a set of development plans, policies and instruments have been created that lead to increasing the use of science and technology so that they generate more technological and non-technological innovation. Yucatan is working on a system in a similar sense. These planning processes and the generation of policies require specific, updated and reliable information on the subject. In practice, national studies were found in the manufacturing sector.
The state government through its Science and Technology Council decides to carry out a measurement on innovation to fuel the deployment of the subject in the 2007-2012 state development plan. Some models of parameters or indicators of innovation were located, based on the use of the Bogotá manual.
The survey is conducted for industries and services between November 2008 and February 2009, on a selection of 80 technology-based companies.
In results of interest is an emphasis of these companies for technological innovation, use of information sources, the perception of technology-based companies with the presence of product and process innovation, medium formalization of innovation activities with specific departments is corroborated. The contacts between agents of the system and the flow of information are mainly between companies with little university-business relationship, there is a limited presence of postgraduate employees; among other indicators that evaluate aspects of the level and scope of innovation activity.
Background
The State of Yucatan is divided into 106 municipalities, covering an area of 43,379 square kilometers, representing 2.21% of the national territory. It has a population of one million eight hundred thousand inhabitants, 1.8% of the national total. It is found between the parallels 19 ° 29 ′ and 21 ° 37 ′ north latitude and the meridians 87 ° 32 ′ and 90 ° 25 ′ west longitude. The South is less than 600 kilometers from Belize and Guatemala. The most dynamic urban area is comprised of the municipalities of Mérida, Umán, Kanasín, Progreso and Conkal that form the metropolitan area of the City of Mérida.
INEGI mentions that during the third quarter of 2008, the Economically Active Population (PEA) of Yucatan stood at 881 thousand people. 101 thousand people (11.8% of the total) work in the primary sector, 263 thousand (30.7%) in the secondary or industrial sector, and 493 thousand (57.4%) are in the tertiary or services sectors.
According to information provided in the study carried out by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Yucatan has advantages because it is strategically located in a growing and relatively prosperous region. Mérida is currently the center of convergence of shops and services in the region. The location of the state is also advantageous with respect to the greater Mesoamerican region, including areas of Central America, the Caribbean, and the southern United States.
The best infrastructure, climate and location as well as a well-trained workforce are among the many and different comparative advantages that the capital area enjoys. Its location and infrastructure offer a clear opportunity to serve as a strategic logistics, distribution, and product processing center for parts of Central America, southern Mexico, the Caribbean, and the southern United States.
According to data from the Yucatan Ministry of Education, for the 2007-2008 cycle, 69 higher education institutions had been registered, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The main research disciplines were: agronomy, anthropology, biology, biotechnology, physics, oceanography, zootechnics. Of the researchers' affiliation institutions, the Autonomous University of the Entity concentrated 42 percent during 2006.
In 2006, Yucatan participated with 1.41% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. for 2006 the industry in total had a growth of 0.02% with respect to 2002 and the activities that contributed the most are: non-metallic mineral products derived from oil and coal with 2.66% and food products, beverages and tobacco with 1.94%.
|
2002 |
2006 P / |
|||||
|
Great division |
Internal product gross in the state (Thousands of pesos at 1993 prices) |
Internal product national gross (Thousands of pesos at 1993 prices) |
Participation With respect to national total (Percentage) |
Internal product gross in the state (Thousands of pesos at 1993 prices) |
Internal product national gross (Thousands of pesos at 1993 prices) |
Participation With respect to national total (Percentage) |
| Total |
20 305 889 |
1 486 792 334 |
1.37 |
23 905 325 |
1 691 168 729 |
1.41 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
1 101 281 |
84 932 998 |
1.30 |
1 276 241 |
93 364 857 |
1.37 |
| Mining |
47 455 |
19 494 209 |
0.24 |
65 880 |
21 836 097 |
0.30 |
| Manufacturing industry |
2 946 783 |
303 003 924 |
0.97 |
3 252 997 |
330 026 598 |
0.99 |
| Building |
1 306 968 |
60 565 540 |
2.16 |
1 455 801 |
73 501 087 |
1.98 |
| Electricity, gas and water |
457 303 |
27 077 347 |
1.69 |
635 589 |
30 332 407 |
2.10 |
| Commerce, restaurants
and hotels |
4 356 128 |
318 079 339 |
1.37 |
5 315 597 |
362 349 489 |
1.47 |
| Transportation, storage
and communications |
2 580 873 |
174 899 420 |
1.48 |
3,541,209 |
234 192 023 |
1.51 |
| Financial services,
insurance activities real estate and rental |
3 586 398 |
250 385 653 |
1.43 |
4 274 252 |
301 398 387 |
1.42 |
| Community services,
social and personal |
4 315 555 |
296 355 283 |
1.46 |
4 567 850 |
310 720 046 |
1.47 |
| Banking services
charged to / |
- 392 856 |
- 48 001 379 |
0.82 |
- 480 092 |
- 66 552 262 |
0.72 |
The following indicators reflect the effort in science and technology in the state.
| Concept |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
|
| Current fellows to / |
271 |
341 |
430 |
430 |
P / |
| New fellows to / |
198 |
206 |
268 |
232 |
|
| Amount contributed by the Mixed Fund
Support for Scientific Research and Technological by origin b / (Millions of pesos) |
10 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
|
| CONACYT |
ND |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
| State Goverment |
ND |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
| Patents applied for c / |
9 |
8 |
5 |
3 |
Information was obtained from the evaluation of technology-based companies in Querétaro-Bajío (Corona, 2001) selected from previous research, from recommendations by Canacintra and from research centers. In the instrument, companies were characterized by size, personnel and technological areas; Relationships were measured, obtaining information, positive factors for innovation, resources provided, type of innovation obtained, etc.
As an international methodology for developing countries, the Bogotá Manual of the Network of Science and Technology Indicators (RICYT) was found in 2002, and the Oslo manual (3rd Edition) prepared by the OECD in 2005. The latter are characterized the results of innovation by technological innovation (product -good or services- or process) and non-technological (organizational and marketing). The Bogotá manual considers as an innovation activity activities that the Oslo manual does not.
Methodology
Information was collected on activities and innovation results, companies from the SIEM list in November 2008 of large size and those selected by Canacintra were interviewed. (technology-based companies). The instrument selected was the Bogotá manual, it was validated with some interviews to reduce the time to obtain information, clarifying terms.
64 questionnaires with answers were obtained, of these 60 contained sufficient information and are analyzed. For the activity, the 2002 North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) was used. The sectors of activity were: agriculture, electricity and gas, services, food, chemical industry, metal products, transportation. Greater response was obtained in services (11), food (13) and metal products (12) and the chemical industry (7).
Results
By company size, there were 25.93% micro, 31.48% small, 31.48% medium and 11.11% large companies.
Innovation activities mentioned as important: training, commercialization and acquisition of technology incorporated into capital. As departments, primarily "quality control" (34%), engineering (26%). In financing innovation, 71.67% use only their own resources.
Regarding the result of the innovation (product-process-organization-commercialization) 80% manifested innovation in processes, 73% in products. Five companies had no results of innovation.
In 53% (34 organizations) their innovation is relative to what they used to do in their company; 35.94% is national in scope and 10.94% know that their innovation was international in scope. For the Oslo manual (OECD, 2003) it is not innovation that has scope with respect to local organizations. This reduces innovation to 46%. The economic impact was increased sales (63.33% of mentions) and reduced costs.
In intellectual property, it was the protection of trademarks (41.67%), product certification (30%), process certification (28.33%), 20% (12) stated that they had applied for patenting, 11.67% (7) who obtained a patent.
Regarding the objectives of the innovation and the selected strategy, there are firstly objectives of Cost Reduction, followed by market objectives and objectives associated with Quality.
The first source of information is the Sales and Marketing Department, followed by the Research and Development Department, executives, and clients.
In the relations with the national innovation system (SNI) (question 7.8.) They have more mentions: Universities (24), Suppliers (23), Consultants (21). There is a university-company link but more with other companies.
The business factors that most affect innovation were: innovation costs and availability of trained personnel, followed by innovation capacity and then the attitude of managers. Obstacles to innovation were found: in the first place, and tied the “scarce link between company-government-institutions” and the “lack of dissemination of programs” followed by “actions and scarce resources destined for innovation” and the lack of “ government support. "
Discussion
Under the guidelines of the Bogotá manual, it is validated that the selection of companies was accurate in more than 90% since they presented results of technological innovation, all presented departments and activities for innovation.
The sectors interviewed were selected for their presence in the state, considering specific requests from the sponsor of this research (the Science and Technology Council of the State of Yucatan).
The activities and departments in most of these companies do not include design and research, indicating a relatively low level of drive for innovation. The same implication is taken from the fact that postgraduate personnel have a presence in services, food, metal products, and health.
The previous actions are basically financed with resources allocated by companies, consistent with the importance of cost analysis and adequate human resources to innovate and with the lack of knowledge (little dissemination) of the programs, which is little resource for innovation in companies.
Being that the news mentions increases in funds for science, technology and innovation and that more programs directed to the productive sector were recently created.
The scope of innovation, where more than 50% of that detected is related to the local market, implies competition for small markets and is likely to inhibit cooperation and integration that would allow these companies to access larger markets, including international markets, or through Larger innovation improve the relationship of value perceived by customers and users that is reflected in the price paid for products.
The analysis of this information continues in this year, completing the literature that increases the analysis, which will make it possible to establish an evaluation of the innovation.
The information presented here and other studies that are still being processed will serve CONCYTEY and the state government to generate policies and instruments for the best development of science, technology and innovation.
Bibliography
- Corona Treviño, Leonel. 2001. Innovation and Region. Innovative companies in the industrial corridors of Querétaro and Bajío. ISBN 968-845-217-3. Ed. Querétaro Autonomous University. Mexico.
- García Lira, Alan. 2001. Diagnosis of technological needs for the processing of marine products from Yucatan. Memories of Congress Ridit 2001. Puebla, México.
- Jaramillo, Hernán; Lugones, Gustavo; Salazar, Monica. 2001. Bogotá Manual. RICYT / OEA / CYTED / COLCIENCIAS / OCYT.
- OECD / EuroStat. 2005. Oslo Manual. Guidelines for collecting and interpreting innovation data. OECD Publishing.
