4.3 Academic autonomy and educational system applied to mining research Academic autonomy is a structural element to produce independent and socially relevant scientific knowledge. In the Peruvian legal system, this principle is expressly recognized in the regulations applicable to higher education institutions, both university and non-university, establishing margins of academic, administrative, and economic autonomy. The Regulations of the Law on Higher Education Institutes and Schools recognize that these institutions are governed by their own statutes and enjoy autonomy in defining their training programs, lines of applied research, and innovation initiatives. However, this autonomy is functionally disconnected from mining policy and sectoral knowledge governance, creating a gap between the education system and the strategic needs of the mining sector. In the field of mining research, this disconnect translates into the absence of a specific legal status for mining research centers that would allow them to reconcile academic autonomy with sectoral coordination. In practice, many centers operate as academic units, temporary projects, or administrative departments subject to general regulations that do not take into account the particularities of mining research, such as its interdisciplinary nature, its dependence on specialized infrastructure, or its constant interaction with public and private actors. From a knowledge governance perspective, this situation weakens the capacity of research centers to act as bridges between science, mining policy, and technological innovation. It also increases the risk of financial dependence on private sources without sufficient regulatory safeguards to preserve scientific independence, especially in contexts where research is focused on critical minerals or technologies that are sensitive to the energy transition. 4.4 Technology transfer, science and technology parks, and mining Technology transfer is one of the main mechanisms through which mining research generates economic, environmental, and social impacts. In Peru, the creation of science and technology parks, research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) centers, and productive innovation and technology transfer centers has been declared a matter of national interest. This regulatory framework represents a significant step forward in recognizing the importance of scientific and technological infrastructure as a support for productive development. However, from the perspective of mining and the green transition, current regulations do not develop specific criteria for the transfer of mining knowledge, nor do they establish differentiated mechanisms for strategic sectors such as critical minerals. The regulations focus mainly on property and procedural aspects—such as the identification and allocation of land—without comprehensively addressing key issues such as intellectual property governance, geological data management, research ethics, or the distribution of benefits derived from mining innovation. This omission limits the system's ability to guide technology transfer toward sustainability and climate action goals. 49
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2