The telecommunications sector in Costa Rica will now fall under the purview and oversight of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MICIT), according to a press release by that government agency yesterday. The entity also announced that the National Council of Scientific and Technological Investigations (CONICIT) has a new president.

At the National Assembly yesterday, legislators overwhelmingly approved the transfer of responsibilities in the national telecommunications sector to the MICIT from the Ministry of the Environment (MINAE). The proposal was well received by the legislators, and although it is subject to a second hearing and another round of voting, Minister Alejandro Cruz was positive that it will be approved, enacted and published in La Gaceta soon.

Minister Cruz also announced to the MINAE that his office is ready to begin the process of transition. The telecommunications sector in Costa Rica is getting a lot of attention, as evidenced by the growth in personal mobile communications and digital technologies in the last few years.

Ronald Bolanos, New President of CONICIT

Starting today, Mr. Bolanos will preside the CONICIT. He arrives at his new post after 25 years as a professor and researcher at the Technology Institute of Costa Rica (ITCR), where he also served as a rector. After his career at ITCR, he became a tech entrepreneur engaged in high-end software distribution of Computer Aided Design (CAD), engineering, and computer animation applications.

Mr. Bolanos will preside for a term of two years. In his comments following his appointment to the post, he mentioned that while the allowed budget for science and technology investigations in Costa Rica is minimal, it is important to justify and demonstrate every penny spent so that interest can be fostered. He also cited the efforts and the success of the government in Uruguay to coordinate between government agencies so that they are all involved in the development of science and technology.