Rolando de la Cruz, an academic at Adolfo Ibáñez University, has called on the Chilean government to boost investment in research and development (R&D) to solidify the country's leadership in strategic sectors.
These remarks come as part of the commemoration of International Science and Technology Day, an occasion honoring the legacy of Dr. Bernardo Houssay, the first Latin American to receive the Nobel Prize in Medicine. The researcher used the occasion to analyze the current role of science within the national framework.
De la Cruz pointed out that Chile faces a technological paradox. While the country possesses unique natural assets—such as prime skies for astronomy and natural laboratories in Antarctica—it struggles to integrate these resources into a self-sustaining ecosystem of innovation.
"It is not enough to simply consume technology; the real leap forward happens when we create and adapt local solutions to global problems," the specialist stated.
Digital divide and technological sovereignty
The researcher warned that the digital divide and limited access to advanced knowledge represent critical obstacles to national growth. According to De la Cruz, science should not be a privilege for the few, but rather a fundamental pillar of civic education.
Today, technology serves as the language that defines reality. From the Artificial Intelligence optimizing logistics to the biotechnology seeking solutions to climate change, science addresses global challenges.
For the academic, the ability to understand an algorithm or evaluate scientific evidence is a form of democratic engagement. A lack of scientific literacy limits the population's ability to participate in technological decision-making.
On the economic front, De la Cruz emphasized that a lack of innovation incurs costs far greater than those of research itself. He argued that investing in science is a necessary tool to avoid dependency on external solutions.
Chile has the opportunity to lead emerging industries such as green hydrogen and the ethical regulation of Artificial Intelligence. However, the academic warned that this requires a long-term national vision that transcends political cycles.
Developing these capabilities depends on a sustained commitment to creating local solutions that address global challenges.
