DETERMINANTS OF THE MATURING PROCESS OF THE MEXICAN RESEARCH OUTPUT: 1980-2009

Abstract

This work analyzes the growth of Mexican research output and impact in the period 1980-2009. The general aim is to identify the policy issues that determined the consolidation of the scientific activity in Mexico during this period. The methodology employed is based on the use of tools such as the Web of Science, specifically the Science Citation Index and the Social Science Citation Index, in addition to selected indexing services from various Mexican institutions. The findings confirm that scientific growth came as the result of several changes associated with the number of active researchers in the National System of Researchers (SNI), fellowships for graduate studies, graduate programs certified by the National Council for Science and Technology (Conacyt) and implementation of the program of improvement of teachers in public universities, complemented with science policies performed efficiently by the Mexican government. The growth is independent of the stagnation of the federal spending in science and technology as percentage of the NGP. This conclusion is consistent with the thesis of other authors, that the growth of research in basic science is determined by a series of changes in the relevant scientific community.