Sir

J. L. Cabrera et al. (Nature 421, 786; 2003) and C. Mendoza et al. (Nature 421, 473; 2003) present opposing views in their Correspondence letters about the amount that the Venezuelan government spends on promoting research and development. Although Cabrera et al. are correct to say this budget was higher last year than it was 10 years ago, their conclusions are based on inaccurate and misleading data.

A much better indicator is percentage of gross national product (GNP) dedicated to R&D. My analysis (see Interciencia 28, 21–28; 2003) reveals a drop from 0.45% in 1990 to an all-time low of 0.26% in 2000, with a comeback to 0.43% in 2001. Going further back, history does not support the claim by Cabrera et al. of “continuous growth”, but reveals a pernicious cycle.

Indeed, since 1990, there have been no significant increases in the percentage of the national R&D budget assigned to most of the main research areas: on average, 7.5% to the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), 18.7% for the research facilities of public universities, 21.5% for the Ministry of Science and Technology, and a small amount for other institutes. Meanwhile, the percentage for Intevep — the technology R&D centre of the state-owned oil company PDVSA — has grown from 30% to an average of 40% and rising: it received 55% in 2001.

Thus, the increase in R&D spending, as a percentage of GNP, to 0.43% — still not up to the 1990 level — is mainly due to increased funding for oil-industry research.

The comment by Cabrera et al. that “more than 60% of Venezuela's science budget comes from the government” suggests that the private sector may supply nearly 40%, but this is not the case. All the above organizations are publicly funded and constitute most of Venezuela's R&D.

However, I agree with Cabrera et al. that the current crisis will have a negative impact on this year's scientific activity and budget, because institutions have suffered cuts of 13–35%. Currency exchange controls will lead to the collapse of scientific institutions such as IVIC and its cherished library (Nature 421, 682; 2003 ). And according to the newspaper Ultimas Noticias on 21 February 2003, 881 scientists and technologists from a workforce of 985 professionals at Intevep were laid off on 4 February, and its budget was slashed by three-quarters, leaving “only 10% dedicated to research”.