a few weeks ago the Colombian Congress approved the budget for next year, in which the Ministry of Science and Technology and Innovation It was left with the lowest spending item, which has generated a response from the affected unions.
Of the $405.62 billion pesos that were guaranteed for all plans in 2023, this sector was left with $401,000 million pesos, so Colombian Academy of exact, physical and natural sciences and the Colombian Association for the Advancement of Science They claim to be “disappointed and concerned” by this part of the progress in the country.
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Congress approved the General Budget of the Nation 2023 for an amount of $405.6 billion
Science and technology on a low budget
Through a statement, the unions made a call to attention to the government led by the president Gustavo Petrowho in various situations has highlighted the importance of this sector, but who is asked for “clear signals” by having minscience the lowest amount of all ministries.
Of the $401,000 million pesos for next year, around $57,000 million represent fixed expenses and $373,000 million will be used for investment. An increase that remains below inflation, as was done with the rest of the portfolios, which would be 11% according to experts.
Along with this panorama, the union highlights the importance of royalties for Science and Technology, which is very different from the annual budget and can be taken as “compensation for the historical lag in which the financing of science has been in the country” and not as the direct source that replaces “the commitment of the State”.
Investment in technology and science projects
Parallel to this panorama of concern, the Government announced a series of investments in developments in different regions of the country, for which 11 projects were approved.
These investigations will receive 80,000 million in total, of which 72,000 million pesos belong to the General Royalty System and 8,000 million are from participating entities.
This investment will benefit more than 450,000 people from 24 departments in Colombia, so the projects are expected to generate 153 direct jobs and 306 indirect jobs.
Additionally, they hope to achieve results such as 12 strengthened and endowed science centers, 6 research articles, 407 supports for the promotion of scientific vocations in Science, Technology and Innovation (CTeI), among other aspects.
“From Minciencias, we are advancing towards the construction of more equitable, productive and competitive territories. We continue working so that, through science, technology and innovation, we contribute to the consolidation of a knowledge-based society”, added Minister A.Arthur Moon.
The division of projects by region has a greater presence in the Llanos, with four developments for 8,188 million, the Caribbean, with three plans for 47,105 million, the Pacific, with three for 4,472 million, and in the center-south only one for 2,293 million.
This way becoming the complementary way to compensate the budget recently approved by Congress, something that has been happening in previous years, since the creation of the Ministry in 2019 when the union with Colciencias was given, which allowed entering the panorama of the Colombian policy for the management of resources and benefits like the rest of the sectors.
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Source-www.infobae.com