Responsible Research and Innovation in Latin America: Socio-Technical Integration Research in Mexico

• In Event: Reflecting on Reflexivity in Practice: Responsible Innovation, Engagement, and Governance - I

Abstract

Although there have been a variety of proposals to design and promote inclusivity in scientific and technological innovations in Latin America, enduring institutions and public policies destined to inclusivity goals have been less common in the region. Different from other regions and countries in which there is an increasing interest and an organized effort to integrate societal and ethical issues at different stages of innovation processes—e.g. “Horizon 2020” in Europe, or the “21st century nanotechnology research and development act” in the United States—in Latin America inclusivity goals and tools are rather diffuse. In this regard, the case of Mexico is particularly salient at both its macro (policies and institutions) and micro (laboratories) levels, or so we argue in this paper. At the macro level, every six years at the wishes of the incumbent party at the presidency, science and technology policies suffer drastic changes. At the micro level, we applied the Socio-Technical Integration Research (STIR) protocol in two Mexican scientific communities to investigate the possible obstacles to inclusivity policies in Mexico. Within the limitations of our studies, we discuss how our results may indicate that Mexican scientists equate inclusivity with efficiency and how the application of the protocol made our research subjects reevaluate such equation and expanded the societal considerations they were considering while doing their technical work. We conclude by remarking how STIR could play a double role by both exposing and treating the obstacles to inclusivity policies, and the themes from the Mexican experience that could be useful to other Latin American countries.

Authors

• Juan Carlos García Cruz, Cátedras CONACYT/ UAM Xochimilco

• Cristian Puga González, Arizona State University