POLICY OF A LUCID NATION

Sometimes one argues that science is not compatible with technology transfer: those who do one are not capable of properly doing the other. This may be somewhat right at an individual level; however, it is an error when we take the collective perspective.

No good technology transfer is possible if there isn’t good science upstream – and science without technology transfer is like pouring water over the Sahara Desert: a precious resource condemned to fade away and evaporate with no benefit.

There is much discussion about organisation models for the science activity and it occurs that the existing models are often disregarded. However, this plain truth is easy to understand: the models that do not generate transfer mechanisms are not sustainable. The social relevance of the Research thus includes the seed for its own healthy survival.

This apparent squaring of the circle, which is after all as an egg of Columbus, is only materialised with strong institutions. To think that the sustainability of Science is only achieved with people is to go back to a model that only perceives a role for the individual - something that has already been adopted and failed.

The individual merit of the scientist is an instrument, not an ending. Sun Tzu said that "Maneuvering with an army is advantageous; with an undisciplined multitude, most dangerous". The army is the organisation, the institution is the support.

Strengthening the institutions as the main promoters of the magic combination between science and transfer, and as the advocates of a collective effort to conquer and value knowledge, is imperative for the Science policy of a lucid nation.

Photo: Wikipedia