There are several areas in which the research area needs improvement. For example, different sectors of society recognize the need for a different interaction between scientific communities, the productive sector, the government, and civil society; This interaction should seek to facilitate a more realistic formulation of the nature of research and the different forms of innovation. Furthermore, scientists and creators need to learn how to work together and respond to the urgent challenges posed by societal needs. Finally, universities have expressed for several years that our country should seek mechanisms that promote appropriate financial support for fundamental research, which is inspired by the use of knowledge, although this is not necessarily immediate.

In this sense, one of the main challenges facing our Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MINCIENCIAS) is to continue building a science, technology and innovation (ST&I) system with various characteristics. On the one hand, that ensures the generation of fundamental knowledge; and on the other, that it promotes the transfer and appropriation of said knowledge by different sectors of the economy and society. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the scientific and creative systems in our country. A scientific system that investigates in the different fields of science, allowing the advancement of fundamental knowledge, and aimed at promoting the transfer of that knowledge as an essential element for innovation; Furthermore, this scientific system must understand that the benefit of knowledge transfer ultimately applies to the well-being and sustainability of all members of society. And, a creative system that allows generating knowledge about new interpretations of human subjectivity and their relationships with others.

Given this background, there are several circumstances that are critical. In the first place, that MINCIENCIAS develop strategies to know in a timely and truthful manner the research and technological development capacities, as well as those related to other activities carried out by the same actors that are part of the ST&I system. Second, that it be allowed to design and promote policies and implement strategies that meet the following characteristics: favor the scientific-technological system of our country; increase the production of knowledge in its borders; and ensure that this knowledge has a positive impact on the way society acts. Third, that the entrepreneurial capacity that allows converting that knowledge into successful innovations be part of the training of professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Said process depends on the creation of conditions such that the generation of knowledge is a process inherent to society itself; this means that scientific and creative activity must be carried out not only in universities and research institutes, but also in the productive sector, so that there is a close relationship between basic research, applied research, and development.

This scenario implies the need for an independent and knowledge-based system that does not exclusively meet the demands of the government in power, but rather builds possibilities to resolve knowledge and development gaps, which favor the persistence of social inequities.