with Claudio Wernli, Executive Director of the Chilean MSI
Who administers the MSI?
The MSI in Chile is administered by an Executive Secretariat
under the direction of a Board of Directors (BD) comprised of 8
distinguished Chilean members (3 scientists, 1 economist, 1
entrepreneur, 1 senator, the Chair of the National Commission
for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT)), all headed
by the Chilean Ministry of Planning.
The MSI also counts on the support of a permanent body of 8
prestigious foreign scientists, the Program Committee (PC),
representing different specialties and coming from different
countries, whose main responsibility is the selection of
projects at each bidding process and to give general oversight
regarding the science of the program.
Who selects the competing institutes/nuclei?
The Centers of Excellence are of two types: large (Science
Institutes) and small (Science Nuclei). The PC carries out the
selection of project, finally recommending to the BD those to be
awarded within a short final list. The BD makes the final
decision.
For the selection group (the program committee), what are
the criteria for selecting members?
The PC is selected based on their experience as scientists and
science innovators/managers, as well as their international
stature recognized by organizations such as NSF, TWAS, the US
National Academy, and others, who propose PC candidates to the
MSI.
How much money is allocated to the Chilean MSI, from what
sources?
The total annual budget for the Chilean MSI has fluctuated
for the last 3 year around $6 million per year. These are all
government funds. During the first 3 years of the program, a
World Bank Learning and Innovation Loan financed the initial set
up of the MSI.
Who determines the funding amounts allocated to each MSI
project?
The Board, as proposed by the Executive Director. This is
directly dependent upon the availability of resources as
approved by the nation’s yearly budget law.
How much discretion do the scientists have in how they
spend those funds?
Scientists have total discretion, but there are ceiling
limits to invest funds in the following areas: honoraria, civil
works, administration and overhead.
What are attitudes toward the MSI among the Chilean
scientific community?
As the program became known, attitudes were rapidly,
increasingly positive. It could be said that the MSI is highly
appreciated by the Chilean scientific community and also
recognized overseas, particularly for its flexibility,
transparency and operation, as described in the 4 evaluations
carried out by independent panels of foreign experts during the
first 6 years of the program. A high number of projects are
proposed to each concourse opened.
What kinds of changes would you suggest for the MSI, if
any?
Not many. Definitely the implementation of advice and
support to stimulate a weak action on recording intellectual
property rights and patents by the Centers and perhaps develop
some mechanisms to enhance connections and joint work among
scientists and among young investigators.
What advice do you have for other nations interested in an
MSI?
In view of the excellent evaluation reports so far, stating,
for instance, that the program is exemplary, successful and by
far the nation’s most productive source of formation of young
scientists, in addition to a significant number of
collaborations with the industrial, educational and public
sectors, I would certainly advise other nations to implement the
MSI model. After Chile, the MSI has also been established in
Brazil, Mexico and Uganda, and Vietnam and Kazakhstan are in the
process of following in the same direction.
SIG
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