Triple helix collaboration - Using the experimentalism theory principles in order to generate collaborative partnerships between the academy and the business with international components

Using the experimentalism theory principles in order to generate collaborative partnerships between the academy and the business, the Colombian government with the World Bank support had implemented a Scheme for the Quality Enhancement of Tertiary Education Institutions (TEI) in the Colombian regions. These TEI usually are ranked lower in public evaluations and are the ones without the Ministry of Education National acreditation seal which guarantees the quality of the training within them.

Description of the program:

The Colombia Científica Program is an answer to create collaborative partnerships between consolidated TEIs, regional TEIs, national and regional businesses and international TEIs and research centers which are using cooperative works in Science Technological and Innovation (STI) areas towards the common aim of enhancing the quality of regional TEIs.

Components of the Colombia Científica program:

1. Scientific ecosystems: this component is financing research grants for the implementation of research and innovation projects responding to regional productive sector needs presented by Institutional Partnerships (IP).

a. These IPs will include at least 2 domestic TEIs (one leading accredited institution with proven research capabilities and one non-accredited institution), at least one international institution, and at least one private firm.

b. The IP may also involve other partners, such as regional research centers. The funds will be allocated on a competitive basis.

2. Passport to science: this component will give scholarships-loans (part scholarship, part loan) to support postgraduate education abroad in the 500 Shanghai Ranking Universities .

The resources will cover the cost of postgraduate education abroad in knowledge areas prioritized in the national policy for science, tecnology and innovation (STI) and the regional economic development plans; and will complete the scientific ecosystems component goals. The scholarships will cover a predetermined percentage of the total amount depending on the type of degree, as long as the student (a) graduates from the program and (b) returns to Colombia to be employed in academia, the public sector, or any institution in the STI system.