Transnational Knowledge Networks in Nanotechnology in Mexico: Policy incentives and Dynamics
Synesis: A Journal of Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy 2013; 4: G61-75
To what extent do incentives from Science and Technology Policy (S&TP) at the local, regional, national, and international levels affect the emergence and dynamics of knowledge production networks in the field of nanotechnology in Mexico? My ongoing research shows that policy instruments both simultaneously promote and hinder knowledge production in such networks. During recent years, S&TP discourses have been dominated by the idea that network promotion is a necessity in Mexico. In practice, however, policies coming from four different governmental levels have, to a certain extent, resulted in contradictory incentives. At the national level, the majority of allocated public resources have been invested in instruments that do not reward active formation of networks, while, at the local and regional levels, producing knowledge in cooperation with foreign institutes and transnational companies has been encouraged. As a result, some public research centers are well connected to transnational networks but only weakly so at the regional and local levels. Combining spatial, sociological and economic network approaches, this work seeks to offer new perspectives and bring new insights into the debate.
Keywords: knowledge production networks, incentives, space