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Jaime Parada Ávila
Director General of the National Council on Science and Technology
Appointed in December 2000, Mr. Parada is the Director General of the National Council on Science and Technology, Mexico’s equivalent to a Ministry of Science and Technology. CONACYT is the Cabinet level agency directly answerable to the President, responsible for science and technology policy in Mexico and entrusted with the task of funding R&D activities through several institutional funds, graduate scholarships for Mexican students and the National Researcher’s System, whereby top researchers get supplemental funding to support their research activities. CONACYT also coordinates 27 research centers in all fields of knowledge, as well as the National Science and Technology Registry and Mexico’s tax incentive scheme for companies involved in R&D.
Mr. Parada graduated as a mechanical-electrical engineer from UNAM’s College of Engineering. He took postgraduate and specialization courses in both Mexican and foreign institutions in the areas of Strategic Planning, Quality Assurance Systems, Manufacturing Systems, Research and Technological Development, Technology Management, and Teaching and Teaching Methods. He has devoted a large part of his professional life to private enterprise. He also, has 25 years of experience in the fields of Technological R&D in the Government, Academy, Research Areas and Private Enterprises. He has held, among other posts, the position of National Director of Conacyt’s Technological Research Centers Support Program; Technical Director of the Empresas Asociadas Division of Grupo Sidermex; Director General of the Mexican Institute for Metal Machining Manufacturing Research; Director General for Corporate Technology, Grupo Vitro, S.A.; Director General for Technology, Grupo CYDSA, S.A. de C.V.; and Director General of three other companies. He is a founding member of the Asociación de Directivos de Investigación Aplicada y Desarrollo Tecnológico (Association of Applied Research and Technological Development Executives), and has been its Secretary and Vice President; he is also a member of the Technological Development Section of the Conference Board and of the Industry Research Institute, in the United States.
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