Caribbean Network for Land and Urban Management Is research useful if not implemented? Enhancing research uptake and developing communication strategies for science, technology and innovation in the urban sector Dr. Perry Polar and Dr. Asad Mohammed, Caribbean Network for Urban Planning and Land Management (blueSpace) September 23 2010, Tobago

Why do we need science, technology and innovation (STI)? STI is critical to economic growth and improved livelihoods (GCI 2010) Competitiveness, the set of institutions, policies and factors which determine the level of productivity of a country More competitive economies have higher levels of income for citizens, better rates of return on investments, and will grow faster in the medium to long term

Trinidad & Tobago is trying to transition from efficiency to innovation economy Basic requirements Institutions Infrastructure Macroeconomic environment Health and primary education Key for factor-driven economies - countries which compete based on their factor endowments, primarily unskilled labour and natural resources Efficiency enhancers Higher education and training Goods market efficiency Labor market efficiency Financial market development Technological readiness Market size Key for efficiency-driven economies - Productivity increase, wages rise, develop more efficient production process and quality Pillars of competitiveness Innovation and sophistication factors Business sophistication Innovation Key for innovation-driven economies - To sustain wages and higher standard of living, unique products must be produced

Trinidad and Tobago ranked 84 out of 139 countries in GCI 2010 12th pillar: Innovation (94) 12.01 Capacity for innovation ..........................................................138 12.02 Quality of scientific research institutions ................................69 12.03 Company spending on R&D.....................................................114 12.04 University-industry collaboration in R&D..................................68 12.05 Gov’t procurement of advanced tech products .......................97 12.06 Availability of scientists and engineers .....................................65 12.07 Utility patents per million population........................................46 Why is this not translating into capacity for innovation?

Is the problem the uptake and social relevance of research? Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI): REPORT ON CARIBBEAN COMPONENT OF IIED’S USER GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE TOOLS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (2008) Lack of political will consistently appeared as one of the major constraints to effective environmental mainstreaming while values of individuals and companies were amongst the most frequently cited drivers.

Effort is needed in: convincing politicians public education and awareness improving the cohesiveness and capacity of civil society to act as effective advocates and lobbyists improving institutional linkages between different agencies and sectors building technical capacity improving access to information / sharing of information / organisation of information (e.g. common databases) effective process – and in particular consultative processes and stakeholder participation in planning, implementation, monitoring and enforcement (most important) availability of relevant data and information (understandable format, long term data collection, turfism)

The NSUS Project (ACP/EU) TITLE: Strengthen research development and uptake capacity in urban, land and municipal management in the Caribbean (NSUS - Network for the application of STI to the urban sector) Contribute to poverty alleviation in the urban areas of the Caribbean by placing socially relevant STI at the heart of applied research and policy making Implement relevant aspects of existing STI for Sustainable Development – Caribbean Regional Policy Framework for Action Themes: Urban sector, water, energy Partners: CARICOM Secretariat, University of Guyana, Anton de Kom University of Surinam, University of Amsterdam

Why start with the urban, land and municipal management? “There can be no sustainable development without sustainable urbanization and no sustainable urbanization without good urban planning (and management )” – Cliff Hague, SG Commonwealth Association of Planners Lessons learnt can be applied to other sectors which utilize science, technology and innovation

How will NSUS improve uptake and make research and technology socially relevant? Networking Build linkages between the producers and the users of research to increase cohesiveness and improve effectiveness of advocates and lobbyists. Provide opportunity for stakeholder dialogue in order to set and monitor the research agenda to ensure social relevance Provide decision makers with a permanent or temporary independent Technical Advisory Groups

How will NSUS improve uptake and make research and technology socially relevant? Capacity Building: Improving qualification through distance learning (EDULINK) Develop of tools/ techniques to determine: If research is being conducted for STI in the urban sector If there is uptake of the research in policies and programmes? What are the challenges to uptake and means to overcome them

Information gathering and dissemination How will NSUS improve uptake and make research and technology socially relevant? Information gathering and dissemination Develop consistent tool for collection of urban profiling data Creating databases of human resources, institutions, bibliography of current research, projects, photos, GIS information etc. Mechanism for stakeholders to obtain up to date information (Blog/ website)

The NSUS structure Three levels A network: BlueSpace (CNULM) is the multi-stakeholder network (HEIs, CARICOM, professionals, government and municipal agencies). Operates through Secretariat. We may act on behalf of the community A communication/dissemination tool : Website (www.bluespacecaribbean.com) communication tool to promote dialogue among stakeholders Repository for databases and other relevant information A review process: Annual Policy Meetings and Technical Advisory Meetings to critique research produced and to set research agenda.

Technical Advisory Groups Assessments and reviews Reviewing existing profiling studies in the region creating a bibliography of relevant urban research cataloguing of human resources identification of best practices Technical studies urban profiling mechanism for the Caribbean Identification of the constraints to the uptake of research Develop mechanisms to enhance use, adaptation and uptake How to transfer lessons learnt on the urban sector other areas utilizing STI Technical Advisory Groups Technical Workshops Technical and Policy working paper series blueSpace www.bluespacecaribbean.com Annual policy meeting Photos, current events Expert/target groups HEI’s Professionals, existing professionals, regional and municipal government agencies, civil society groups

Dr. Perry Polar and Dr. Asad Mohammed Caribbean Network for Land and Urban Management The End Dr. Perry Polar and Dr. Asad Mohammed ACP S&T Strengthen research development and uptake capacity in the Urban, Land and Municipal Management in the Caribbean (NSUS Network for the application of STI to the urban sector) Also see: https://prezi.com/xruqkx6ppfvw/presentation-on-is-research-useful-if-not-implemented/ Perry.Polar@sta.uwi.tt Asad.Mohammed@sta.uwi.tt