Mapping Research and Innovation in Jamaica

Mapping Research and Innovation in Jamaica represents the thirteenth country profile produced by UNESCO’s Global Observatory of Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Instruments (GO-SPIN), marking the first volume on a Small Island Developing State. The series aims to deliver nuanced insights regarding science, technology, and innovation (STI) policies through a robust assessment framework. This comprehensive analysis delineates the evolution of STI policy in Jamaica from the late 1960s to the present, compiling statistical data and inventories of core policy instruments and the institutional ecosystem. These findings, which serve as a solid foundation for nuanced STI policy analysis, illuminate current STI policy dynamics within Jamaica, revealing substantial implications for its future direction. Central to Jamaica’s national development framework, Vision 2030 Jamaica, is the crucial role of research and innovation in enhancing economic growth and bolstering global competitiveness. The 2022 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy critiques identified challenges and proposes strategic policy interventions to strengthen linkages among key stakeholders, advancing the diffusion of science, engineering, technology, and innovation activities across the economic landscape. This policy underscores research and innovation as foundational pillars for transitioning Jamaica into a technology-enabled society, emphasising the urgent need to achieve the STI objectives outlined in Vision 2030.As per recent estimations, Jamaica’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) is around 0.07% of GDP, significantly lower than the average of 0.61% in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, the 2022 STI National Policy targets increasing GERD to 1.5% of GDP by 2029, a potential game-changer. Data from 2018 indicates Jamaica had 282 researchers per million population, predominantly within the higher education sector, notably with 90% of scientific output originating from the University of the West Indies. As of 2023, Jamaican authors contributed to 358 scientific articles indexed in the Scopus database, positioning the nation 140th globally and second within CARICOM. However, pursuing the STI objectives articulated in Vision 2030 is challenging. Key barriers include the scarcity of reliable data on the country’s research and innovation landscape, inadequate coordination among STI stakeholders, and ineffective networking mechanisms between academia, government, and industry. These issues are exacerbated by a lack of diverse funding sources, underdeveloped R&D infrastructure, and suboptimal human resource strategies within the STI sector. The report culminates in short- and medium-term recommendations organised across four strategic pillars to address these critical barriers to research and innovation for sustainable development in Jamaica.