Technological Surveillance as a methodology to establish a strategic route of research: case of chili chain in Colombia.

Technological surveillance is a methodology that helps to strategically address the processes of research and technological development (R&D) in different productive sectors; it is based on the fact that technology is a key factor in the competitiveness of enterprises, therefore, knowledge of technological advances, in all its components, is a sine qua non for progress with more certainty in the identification of gaps and challenges. In Colombia, technological surveillance was one of the tools widely implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD); it was used in the definition of prospective R&D agendas for 24 agricultural chains, among these, chili´s chain. These agendas are considered as an appropriate mechanism to identify and prioritize the issues of technology and non-technology sectors as a key step in targeting and allocation of resources for R&D.

 

This article discusses the role of technology surveillance in the construction of the prospective agenda for R&D in pepper chain. This tool was basically oriented towards the identification first of the state of art and trends in R&D in Colombia and around the world and second national research capabilities and gaps and technological challenges. Analysis is done in two ways: one based on the results from the applied methodology for surveillance, and the other from the results expressed by the experience and subsequent process. Main intention is to contribute in the understanding that processes and outcomes are among actors; a good process and relevance of results of research depends on the nature of actors and coordination achieved. This technological surveillance allowed us a structured analysis of developments and trends in R&D in eight key subject areas within the chain of chili. From this, there were gaps and challenges in R&D for the chain in Colombia. However, several obstacles are evident for the massive appropriation of surveillance in organizations. Representativeness, capacities and flow of trust between actors are determining factors; it is needed that the process continues, especially where results effectively articulates the future with today through politics that materialize strategies and allocation of resources to overcome the factors that limit the competitiveness of the chain. The possibility to establish and strengthen vicious cycles instead of virtuous cycles is a likely risk in the field of agricultural chains, especially when it comes to science, technology and innovation, a system component that is still under construction.