I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from the experience of Kerala and be able to express some words related to this strategy of development based on knowledge. I'd like to make a point only on the topic of public policy, specifically on public participation in this process, and the public policy challenge of transforming Kerala into a knowledge economy.

In the decision regarding the design of STI policy in our countries, it has dominated a top-down approach, an approach to government policy as opposed to public policy. Therefore, there have been difficulties in recognizing the voice of stakeholders. Government policy faces the challenge to becoming public policy and for these the participation of interested parties is required. The public nature of the policy refers to increasing stakeholders' participation in the policy formulation process. Public participation is a political principle or practice. It can be recognized as a human right, the human right to public participation. It can be seen as a form of empowerment of citizens and there is part of the democratic governance. In order to design a public policy, it is required to think in participation, negotiation, and consensus generation of proposals of the different actors of the STI sector. To deepen public participation requires fostering the dialogue between officials and stakeholders for the decision-making process.

Public participation in STI opens space for a dialogue between STI communities (stakeholders) and the officials. Each community intervene with different intensity in each stage of the policy cycle. The evidence at the international level shows a more intense participation in the stage of definition of the agenda and design, which is the stage in which Kerala is.

Today, the generation and management of the dialogue is part of the governance capability of the national innovation system. I believe that public participation is very important for this strategy of the development based on knowledge with the vision of transforming Kerala into a knowledge economy. We are very interested in this process that you are starting now and I am confident that it will be an example for many developing countries. Thank you very much.