The Current State of Scientific Research in Mexico
In Mexico, a significant amount of scientific research remains confined to laboratories and seldom reaches the market. This situation restricts return on investment and hinders the creation of new solutions for society, as highlighted by Mercedes Gutiérrez Smith, co-founder of the laboratory Timser.
Gutiérrez Smith pointed out that 90% of research in Mexico occurs within institutes, yet there are few medications bearing the institution’s brand. She stated, “There seems to be something in the innovation system or ecosystem in Mexico that is not allowing innovations to reach the market and truly generate a return on investment, which also results in limited incentives for investment.”
The Need to Transform the Innovation Ecosystem
To address this issue, Gutiérrez Smith emphasized the necessity of transforming Mexico’s innovation ecosystem to make it more profitable and accessible. This includes fostering collaboration between research institutes, regulatory agencies, private initiative, and civil society.
“Often, research remains in the realm of scientific curiosity, and we lack the vision to bring it to market. It is crucial that there is coordination between government, academia, businesses, and civil society so that together we can bring innovations to fruition,” she explained.
The Role of Researchers
Gutiérrez Smith acknowledged that one major challenge is the distrust among researchers, who fear losing control of their ideas. “Although this fear is understandable, it can significantly hinder progress because you cannot achieve great things alone. Major innovations and successful businesses are the result of teamwork.”
She stressed the importance of researchers learning to form multidisciplinary teams—comprising legal, financial, and commercial experts—to help them bring their projects to market. Such an ecosystem should protect and motivate these collaborative efforts.
Timser: Innovation with Social Impact
The Mexican laboratory Timser was founded after identifying inequity in healthcare access, particularly for girls affected by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
From its inception, Timser’s vision was clear: partner with researchers to develop high-impact, low-cost products in the shortest time possible.
This led to the creation of Preventix, a test capable of detecting protein biomarkers in blood with 97% efficacy for cervical cancer detection and 85% for lesions. They are also working on medications against HPV.
Timser has secured three innovative patents, two focused on women’s health and one on respiratory diseases. However, Gutiérrez Smith noted that investment in research and development in Mexico remains limited at just 0.5%.
The Gender Gap in Innovation
Gutiérrez Smith also underscored the importance of promoting women-led innovation. “Of the few patents approved in the country, less than 2% are held by women,” she stated, calling for greater institutional support.
Additionally, she pointed out that the lack of tax incentives poses another obstacle: “There is no public funding for innovation, and innovative activities are not tax-deductible.”
Despite these challenges, Gutiérrez Smith remains optimistic about Mexico moving towards a model where scientific research can be transformed into tangible solutions for society. “As this ecosystem begins to function more cohesively, we will see substantial investment in such research within the country.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue with scientific research in Mexico? A significant portion of scientific research remains confined to laboratories and rarely reaches the market, limiting return on investment and hindering new societal solutions.
- What is the role of collaboration in addressing this issue? Fostering collaboration between research institutes, regulatory agencies, private initiative, and civil society is crucial for transforming innovation into profitable and accessible solutions.
- What challenges do researchers face in bringing their ideas to market? Researchers often distrust sharing their ideas due to fear of losing control, but multidisciplinary teams and supportive ecosystems are essential for success.
- What is Timser and its social impact? Timser is a Mexican laboratory that focuses on high-impact, low-cost products addressing healthcare inequities. Their Preventix test detects protein biomarkers for cervical cancer and lesions, with 97% and 85% efficacy, respectively.
- What are the barriers to women-led innovation in Mexico? Women hold fewer than 2% of patents in the country, and there is a lack of public funding for innovation along with insufficient tax incentives.
