21 June 2012: The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released a review examining the Dominican Republic’s national innovation system titled “Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review of the Dominican Republic.” The review concludes that the country is developing strong institutional frameworks and makes recommendations to build on these.

The review considers three sectors: agriculture and agro-industry; health; and energy. The review concludes that key legislative measures have been put in place to develop a strong institutional framework to enable businesses, generate jobs and promote economic growth.

The review recommends three areas for action: greater promotion of innovation activities in enterprises, through increased research in universities; concentration of efforts and resources in priority economic and social areas such as energy sustainability, health care, agriculture and agro-industry; and increased investment in developing skills, especially among researchers at the postgraduate level, in the priority economic and social sectors.

The review is the first undertaken by UNCTAD for a small island developing State (SIDS). [UNCTAD Press Release] [Publication: Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review of the Dominican Republic]