A Historical Review of Its Contributions to Health, Health Care, and Health Policies 1962-2008 (877.58 kB)

© PAHO 2010

A World Bank study published in 2005 evaluated the worldwide impact of innovation on long-term development between 1960 and 2000 using such measurements as patents, investment in research and development (R&D) and number of technical personnel (such as engineers and scientists) working in R&D. The findings suggest that innovation has a strong and positive effect on development in countries, and that there is a strong correlation between patenting activity and R&D efforts, therefore concluding that innovation should be placed at the top of the research agenda.