The work approaches the perception of advanced countries researchers who analyze the transformation in course in the research and higher education institutions concerning the research community's role (vis-à-vis the bureaucrats and entrepreneurs) in their policy making process. Its objective, besides providing an updated panoramic vision on the theme for Latin-American colleagues, is to show that many of our community's characteristics seem to be equally present, sometimes in a lessened way, in those countries. The aim of the work is to contribute to a more adequate consideration of these characteristics in the elaboration of the Science and Technology policy of our countries.
Research community; Science and technology policy; Latin America; Science and technology studies