Comisión Asesora en Alta Tecnología

This paper studies the degree to which innovation by Costa Rican manufacturing firms creates or displaces employment, how different innovation strategies affect employment, and how these effects vary by firm size and type of employment demand characteristics (skills and gender). In particular the research focuses on the differential effects of product and process innovations on employment growth.Particular attention was paid to identifying innovation impacts on employment generation by SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). In doing so, we estimate a model proposed in Harrison, Jaumandreu, Mairesse, and Peters (2008) using an IV approach with data from the Innovation Surveys for Costa Rica for the period 2006–2007. The results show that both product and process innovation are positively related to employment growth. Evidence was found for important differences in impacts by firm size and labor skills. The strategy of in-house innovation is very important as a driver of employment generation. Imported innovation does not seem to have an impact on employment growth. The findings suggest that policies aimed at overcoming challenges faced by Costa Rican firms in becoming more innovative are also very important for generating new employment opportunities in the country. Download here

On February 24^thwas held the Forum "Enhancing the possibilities of SME's financing in Costa Rica" at the Crowne Plaza Corobicí Hotel.

This Forum was held in order to diffuse the scope of a study conducted by ECLAC on financing possibilities for SME's in Costa Rica, and discuss a proposal for the creation of a seed capital fund in this country, under the Banking  Development System. This proposal was developed by international experts under the auspices of ECLAC. The event was designed to provide background elements to the Costa Rican authorities in its important work of revision and improvement of Banking  Development System.

The Seventh Report on the broadband penetration in Costa Rica to the 30th of June 2009,  is focused in showing the evolution of the broadband in Costa Rica from Decembre 2005 to June 2009. It also shows a benchmarking between the Member States of the  Cisco Barometer Club and the penetration in school and high school centers in Costa Rica.

By the first semester of the 2009, the broadband connections increased 23,7%, the ADSL connections 32,2% and of 19,8% cable. Since the Cisco barometer was launched in  2005 there has been an 83% of  advance towards the goal: 7% of penetration x 100 inhabitants. At the moment there are 52,243 (17%) connections needed to reach the goal.

Download report (available only in spanish)

This paper addresses the relationships between innovation, research and development (R&D) and productivity in domestic ICT firms in Costa Rica.
Factors considered were the types of innovation outputs produced by domestic ICT firms, the relative importance of innovation inputs, the impacts of innovation on firm productivity, the protection of innovations, and impediments to innovation. While most firms engaged in all types of output and input innovations, they appear to be driven by retaining or increasing market share rather than increasing productivity. Half of firms do not formally protect the intellectual property created by their innovations, are not familiar with methods for protecting innovation or the availability of government grants for such purposes, and face barriers associated with the Costa Rican Patent Office. Other impediments include lack of knowledge about financial resources available and scarcity of human resources. There is also evidence of knowledge spillovers through worker mobility from multinationals operating in Costa Rica to domestic ICT firms.

Download here