Departmental Innovation Index for Colombia: a tool to guide STI policies in territories

Colombia’s adaptation of the IDIC based on the GII is the first step toward an adequate innovation system dynamic measurement in the country since it is the first instrument that allows evaluating the impact of public innovation policies at the aggregate level and by departments. Additionally, it provides a good overview of trends in innovation over the last 5 years (the time horizon in which the IDIC has been calculated) and makes it possible to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each department to focus resources or maintain good practices.

Another benefit of this index is that it allows identifying regional gaps in terms of innovation capabilities, as well as challenges and strengths. Therefore, the index is projected as an instrument that provides solid information based on representative data at the departmental level that allows public policy makers to focus actions to improve innovation capacities and results in their territories.

Finally, the IDIC provides information that, together with the toolbox and the simulator, allows policymakers to design science, technology, and innovation policies that favor their development, considering the capacities, strengths, and weaknesses of the territories. Consequently, the IDIC is a key input, which collects specific characteristics of the departments and allows the design of instruments, plans, programs, projects, and ad hoc policies.