Mexico’s national development plan highlights R&D spending

President Enrique Peña Nieto has unveiled a national development plan for Mexico that includes spending 1 per cent of the country’s GDP on R&D, up from the 0.5 per cent that it spends today.

The plan also emphasises the importance of improving education and linking schools, universities, research centres and the private industry.

“More science and more technology are conditions that will allow Mexico to establish itself as an emerging power in the coming years,” said Peña Nieto, speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the 77th anniversary of Mexico’s National Polytechnic Institute. “If we are able to create synergy to increase public and private investment in research and development, Mexico will walk with greater certainty down the path of prosperity.”