Researchers in Mexico are preparing to march against legislation that some say could harm basic science
The law has been four years in the making. Shortly after Obrador took office in 2018, the country amended its constitution to guarantee people the right to “enjoy the benefits” of science and technology. Officials then proposed updating Mexico’s science law to align with this idea.
The scientific community worried that the country’s main science agency, the National Council of Science and Technology , would dominate the process. So a series of discussion sessions were organized at which academic researchers and directors of educational institutions could express their views.because of the COVID-19 pandemic and disagreements among parties.
The law also specifies that if a project receives funding from the government, any intellectual property that results will be owned by the government unless otherwise agreed, Cristal says. The problem with Conahcyt keeping the intellectual property “is that it doesn’t have the mechanisms, facilities or the human or material resources to take that intellectual property and transfer it into products”, she adds.
Researchers also worry that the new law introduces a change affecting science spending. The previous law specified that 1% of the country’s gross domestic product should be invested in science, although Mexico never met that goal. Now the law specifies “that you can’t invest less than the previous year”, Sánchez says. This means that if the government increases the amount by only one peso per year, it will be complying with the law. “There is no obligation to grow.
Given the discontent with the law, it will probably be challenged in court. People and institutions have 30 days from 8 May, when it was enacted, to file suit. Martínez expects that the law will be modified: “If the judges consider that the constitution hasn’t been respected, they are going to suggest to the legislature some kind of correction.”
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