OECD Global Forum on the Knowledge Economy: Policy Frameworks for ICTs, Innovation, and Human Resources

The Forum concentrated on policy areas for the development of a knowledge-based economy:

• information technologies including telecommunications and e-business
• science, technology and innovation
• skills, education and employment

Discussions focused on:

• the economic benefits of ICTs, innovation and human resource developments
• the necessity of developing coherent approaches to ICTs, innovation and human resources, encompassing policy frameworks, priorities, sequencing, implementation and evaluation of policy outcomes
• the links between the knowledge economy, high value activities, growth and distribution

Speakers were drawn from OECD, Latin American countries, the government sector and regulatory agencies, the private sector, civil society, and academia. This Global Forum was an outreach initiative for policy dialogue among OECD Member countries and non-Member economies. The focus was on global issues of interest to countries from all regions, focusing on challenges specific to Latin America in this context.

Issues Paper

Summary of the Global Forum

For further information, please contact Mr. Graham Vickery by E-mail.

FINAL AGENDA

DAY 1: Monday, 16 September 2002

OPENING and WELCOMING REMARKS

• Mr. Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg, Minister of Science and Technology, Brazil
• Mr. Herwig Schlögl, Deputy Secretary-General, OECD

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

• Mr. Pasi Rutanen, Chairman, Wordliners OY, Finland

SESSION I: ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THE KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY

Moderator:
Mr. Pekka Lindroos, Head of Information, Computer & Communications Policy Division, OECD

Panel Discussion:

• Mr. Mario Cimoli, Economic Affairs Officer, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
• Mr. Reynaldo Treviño, Public Policy Advisor, Office of the President, Mexico
• Mr. Celso Pinto de Melo, Director, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brazil
• Mr. Akhtar Badshah, Executive Director, Digital Partners, U.S.
• Mr. Alberto Oliart Ros, National Laboratory for High Information Technology, Mexico
• Mr. José Vargas Niello, Regional Director, Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Consumers International
• Mr. John Mein, Executive Vice President, Brazilian Chamber of e-Commerce

PART I Policy Frameworks and New Issues

The session highlighted the main policy issues (across countries) for ICTs and the knowledge-based economy, focusing on general policy frameworks and new issues.

Moderator
Mr. Tadao Takahashi, Head of the Information Society Program, Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil

Panel Discussion

• Mr. Richard Simpson, Canada, Chair, OECD Working Party for the Information Economy
• Mr. Juarez Quadros, Minister of Telecommunications, Brazil
• Mr. Joe Richardson, Department of State, U.S.
• Ms. Beatrice Rangel, Senior Advisor to the Chairman, Cisneros Group, Venezuela
• Ms. Jody Westby, The Work - IT Group, U.S.

PART II National Strategies and Regional Challenges

The session highlighed national strategies, best practices, and special challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Moderator
Mr. Fredy Bentancurt, SDS/ICT Regional Representative, Inter-American Development Bank

Panel Discussion

• Mr. Graham Vickery, Head of Information Economy Unit, OECD
• Mr. Martin Hilbert, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
• Mr. Renato Guerreiro, former President, ANATEL, Brazil
• Mr. Cecil Bartholomew, Director, Information Technology, Grenada

DAY 2: Tuesday, 17 September 2002

SESSION 3: INNOVATION

The session focused on the main policy issues (across countries) for innovation and the role of public-private partnerships in the knowledge-based economy.

Moderator
Mr. Jean Guinet, Science and Technology Policy Division, OECD

Panel Discussion

• Mr. Mauro Marcondes Rodrigues, President, Funding Agency for Studies and Projects (FINEP), Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil
• Mr. Engelbert Beyer, Head of Economic Aspects, Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany
• Mr. Carlos Vogt, State of São Paolo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil
• Mr. Sujai Shivakumar, National Academy of Sciences, U.S.

SESSION 4: HUMAN RESOURCES

The session highlighted the main policy issues (across countries) for human resources and education in the knowledge-based economy.

Moderator
Mr. Lauritz Holm Nielsen, Senior Advisor for Post-Secondary Education in Latin America, the World Bank

Panel Discussion

• Mr. Richard La Pointe, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Education, U.S.
• Ms. Maria Helena Castro, Deputy Minister of Education, Brazil
• Mr. Eduardo Krieger, President, National Academy of Sciences, Brazil
• Mr. Gabriel Casaburi, Economist, Fundación Mediterranea, Argentina
• Ms. Marie-Paule Verlaeten, Ministry of the Economy, Belgium

SESSION 5: POLICY ROUNDTABLE

Moderator
Mr. Richard Simpson, Canada, Chair, OECD Working Party for the Information Economy.

Panel Discussion

• Mr. Carlos Pacheco, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Brazil
• Mr. Graham Vickery, Head of Information Economy Unit, OECD
• Ms. Catherine Mann, Senior Fellow, International Institute for Economics, U.S.
• Mr. Samuel Gleiser Katz, President, International Chamber of Commerce, Peru
• Mr. Regis Guimaraes, Instituto Genius, Brazil
• Mr. Lauritz Holm Nielsen, Senior Advisor for Post-Secondary Education in Latin America, World Bank

CLOSING SESSION, CONCLUSIONS AND CLOSING REMARKS

• Mr. Herwig Schlögl, Deputy Secretary-General, OECD
• Mr. Carlos Pacheco, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Brazil

This Global Forum has been jointly organised by the OECD and the Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil. Additional support has been provided by the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank InfoDev Conference Scholarship Fund.
The Summary report is available here