The document discusses the development of a baseline of indicators for research, development and innovation (R&D&I) in information and communication technologies (ICT) in Colombia. It aims to 1) monitor the dynamics and evolution of the ICT sector's scientific and technological capabilities, 2) facilitate the design and monitoring of public policies for the sector, and 3) provide updated statistical information. The baseline was constructed using a methodology that included identifying relevant indicators, prioritizing them, specifying the technical details, and measuring the indicators. It is organized across dimensions, categories, and 53 specific indicators. The baseline will help evaluate progress, inform policymaking, and increase competitiveness in the ICT sector.

1. BASELINE OF INDICATORS FOR R&D AND INNOVATION IN ICT: A TOOL FOR
DECISION-MAKING, DESIGN AND MONITORING OF PUBLIC POLICIES
Mora Holguín Henry1
, Lucio-Arias Diana2
, Zarate Sandra3
, Castro Novoa Nayibe4
, Clara Pardo5
INTRODUCTION
Development and implementation of sophisticated strategies to improve competitiveness of sectors relies on precise monitoring of the sectors dynamics and particularly, evolution of scientific
and technological development and innovation (STI) generating capacities. In a knowledge-based economy, non-technological innovation plays an important due to the importance of infor-
mation and knowledge management for individuals and organizations (OECD, 2011). According to the World Economic Forum, the role of ICT in stimulating economic growth and creating
new employment opportunities for highly qualified personal has never received as much attention as today and as a result it has become a common concern for researchers. ICT`s positive im-
pacts in the efficiency of firms has been widely acknowledged and allows businessmen to optimizer their firms production and mobilize resources to other more productive investments. ICTs
are also regarded as an innovation source that can accelerate growth, favor technology adoption and adaptation, and promote technological change due to their effect in reducing transaction
costs and minimizing the importance of geographical distance in innovation processes. As a result of the importance of ICTs and of monitoring STI capabilities, it is necessary to have updated
and relevant statistical information that facilitates the design and monitoring of public policies for the sector. In Colombia, lack of information resulted in the initiative to create a baseline of in-
dicators to provide information on the STI activities. The set of proposed indicators should result beneficial to the academic sector, the government, the industry and society in general. We will
make a brief discussion of the importance of the baseline and the methodology underlying its design and construction.
REFERENCES
Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación -Colciencias-. (2008). Colombia Construye y Siembra Futuro. Bogotá, Colombia: Colciencias.
Departamento Nacional de Planeación –DNP-. (2005). Visión Colombia II Centenario: 2019 . Bogotá, Colombia: DNP.
Departamento Nacional de Planeación –DNP-. (2009). Documento CONPES 3582: Política Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología. Bogotá, Colombia.
Departamento Nacional de Planeación –DNP-. (2010). Plan Nacional de Desarrollo (PND) 2010-2014 Prosperidad para Todos . Bogotá, Colombia: DNP.
OCyT. (2014a). Análisis de la literatura de indicadores de CTI en TIC nacionales e internacionales existentes. Bogotá: OCyT.
OCyT. (2014b). Identificación de Políticas de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para el sector de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicaciones en Colombia. Bogotá:
OCyT.
OCyT. (2014c). Informe “Diseño estructural para la batería de indicadores de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación en Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones”. Bogotá:
OCyT.
OCyT. (2014d). Inventario de fuentes de información identificadas. Bogotá: OCyT.
OCyT. (2014e). Informe de comparabilidad de indicadores. Bogotá: OCyT.
OCyT. (2014f). Fichas Técnicas de los Indicadores. Bogotá: OCyT.
OCyT. (2015a). Informe de cálculo de indicadores sintéticos para la LBI I+D+i de TIC. Bogotá: OCyT.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development –OECD-. (2011). Measuring Innovation:A New Perspective. París: OECD.
5. FINAL REFLECTIONS
The baseline proposed is an innovative instrument because it aims at measuring STI capabilities in a spe-
cific sector and could be easily transferred to other productive sectors; this could contribute to the devel-
opment of the country and its transition of a knowledge based society.
This first measurement exercise of STI activities in the ICT sector is, without doubt, a key tool to
know where do we stat from and where are we going, to take informed decisions, formulate public policy
actions, plans and instruments. Its articulation into an evidenced-based policy design could generate spill-
overs to other sectors in the economy as a consequence of transversality of ICTs. In this sense, it would be
recommended the systematic and periodic actualization of the information in the database maintaining the
proposed methodologies to promote comparability and traceability.
1. THE NEED FOR A BASELINE OF INDICATORS
Interest of MinTIC to have detailed information on the state and dynamics of
STI activities motivated a to observe and monitor sectorial performance based
on three activities: In first place, the formulation of research, technological
development and innovation agenda for ICT requires orientations on the pro-
spective development of the sector; in the second place, an opportune selec-
tion and construction of a set of indicators aligned with the requirement of a
reliable picture of the sector and in the third place, definition of an action plan
to close gaps in prioritized issues of the country.
From this perspective, the baseline is useful in at least two ways: first,
because it as an appropriate tool to diagnose STI activities in the sector by
generating information that serves policy formulation, and second, because it
allows monitoring which allows to monitor the efficiency of the designed pol-
icies and their alignment to the targeted goals.
Aligned with this, the baseline provides a representation of the dynam-
ics of ICT industries but also of other productive sectors where the ICTs have
become a fundamental strategy to introduce new innovations, for example,
optimize processes, among others. Time series that make part of the baseline
should be periodically updated assuring updated and relevant information.
Form the normative perspective, the baseline is supported in different
policy documents such as the National Development plans (DNP, 2010), poli-
cies (Colciencias, 2008), economic and social policy documents (Conpes,
DNP, 2009), prospective documents (DNP, 2005), etc. All of this normative
documents agree on the importance of the importance pf information on STI
dynamics, on the requirement to consolidate information systems and statis-
tics on STI and policy evaluation among others.
3. STRUCTURE OF THE BASELINE
The aggregation of the 53 indicators that composed the baseline obeyed the
following structure:
3.1 Dimensions
General aspects that should be considered in STI measurement in ICT sector,
it includes:
 Inputs: Resources and efforts, financial and human, required for STI
activities in the ICT sector.
 Process: Intermediate activities required for the efficient transfor-
mation of inputs into outputs and results.
 Results: Measures tangible, verifiable results which are obtained from
STI activities in the ICT sector.
3.2 Categories
These are aligned with the international standards recommended for these types of activities, these are:
2. METHODOLOGY
The baseline was built under the operationalization of ICT as a sector and as a
transversal strategy to other industries and sectors. The following methodolo-
gy was used to design and construction the baseline:
Training: Supply and demand of
training programs related to the
ICT sector in the technical and
technological levels, professional
and tertiary, as well as available
supports for training and personal
in training process.
4. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE BASELINE
The LBI provides information on the country's capabilities regarding science, technology and innova-
tion in ICT in different times. At the same time, it is a tool to assess progress over previous measure-
ments and is also an input to propose alternative strategies to improve performance and increase the
competitiveness of the ICT sector based on its scientific and technological development and innovation
capabilities.
 Facilitates monitoring, evaluation and formulation of public policies, plan,
programs and projects in the topic.
 Coordinate agents from different spheres in the framework of their politics
and programs.
 Promote ICT for development and competitivity in the country.
GOVERNMENT
ACADEMIA
INDUSTRY
 Contextualize their contributions to the sectoral capacities in the country.
 Promote research for generation of new knowledge that provides solutions
from ICT.
 Improve the educational supply of programs so that it responds to the re-
quirements of the industry and society.
 Get information on public support instruments for projects in these topics.
 To have information on the sectorial ecosystem to consider for strategic
planning exercises, possible alliances, network formation, clusters, etc.
 Get information on public support instruments for projects in these topics.
 Identify the supply of professionals trained on this topic.
This work was supported by the Colombian Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MINTIC) and
the Administrative Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (Colciencias).
Authors:
1
Lead researcher in innovation and competitiveness. Colombian Observatory of Science and Technology (OCyT in
Spanish). hmora@ocyt.org.co
2
Chief building and strengthening research. Research and Innovation division. Universidad del Rosario.
dianap.lucio@urosario.edu.co
3
Research assistant. Colombian Observatory of Science and Technology (OCyT in Spanish). szarate@ocyt.org.co
4
Research assistant. Colombian Observatory of Science and Technology (OCyT in Spanish). ncastro@ocyt.org.co
5
Executive Director. Colombian Observatory of Science and Technology (OCyT in Spanish). cpardo@ocyt.org.co
Infrastructure: Considers
aspects related with the re-
quired technology for re-
search and innovation as
well as the institutional and
normative architecture re-
quired.
Investment: Financial resources mobilized in
the execution of STI activities in the ICT sector.
Human resources:
researchers and re-
search groups of pro-
fessionals that develop
STU activities in the
ICT sector.
Management of R&D&I:
considers support activities to
the execution of STI in ICT
sector:; related to relations
between agents, access to tax
incentives, access to sources
of bibliographic information
and barriers and incentives to
innovation.
Scientific and technologi-
cal production: scientific
documents and publications,
specialized journals and in-
tellectual property rights in
the sector.
Innovation results: New of signifi-
cantly improved goods and services, in-
dicators on sales from innovative prod-
ucts are considered in this point.
Identification and characterization of information source
Preliminary design of the baseline`s structure-content
Stakeholders consults
Identification of STI indicators in ICT
Literature review to identify information requirement
Prioritization of the indicators
Technical specifications record of each indicator
Measurement of the baseline
Socialization of results
Identification and characterization of information source
Preliminary design of the baseline`s structure-content
Stakeholders consults
Identification of STI indicators in ICT
Literature review to identify information requirement
Prioritization of the indicators
Technical specifications record of each indicator
Measurement of the baseline
Socialization of results
Indicators
Baseline
R&D&I of ICT