The Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust (S&T Trust), established in 2004 under Public Law 214 as a private, non-profit entity, is charged with stimulating innovation, technology commercialization and the creation of high-technology jobs in Puerto Rico. Public Law 214 also authorizes the S&T Trust to define and implement the public policy for science, technology and research and development (R&D) for Puerto Rico. This document, Puerto Rico’s Policy on Science, Technology & Innovation, is the product of a joint public-private sector effort, coordinated by the S&T Trust and the Puerto Rico State Committee of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). It presents a comprehensive approach to fostering and harnessing locally developed and protected innovation that can significantly enhance economic growth and job creation in Puerto Rico. This Policy will help guide local government agencies, private-sector entities, and higher education institutions to coordinate with one another all efforts aimed to accelerate Puerto Rico’s technology development, intellectual property protection, and commercialization process. Here we describe the rationale for the proposed policy, its objectives, strategies, metrics, implementation guidelines, and progress report requirements.
