Innovation as Public Policy in the Research Centers of Public Institutions of Higher Education

This research is based on the theories proposed by Davila et al. (2006), Escorsa (2003), the Oslo Manual (2005), among others. This is a descriptive, non-experimental, transectional and field research. The study population consisted of the research centers of the public institutions of higher education in the department of La Guajira, Universidad de La Guajira and Universidad Abierta y a Distancia, taking as subjects of information the vice-rectors of research, research directors and the leaders of the research groups, for a total of 49 people. The data collection technique was the survey, through the application of a 49-item questionnaire with Likert-type response alternatives. The data obtained were processed and analyzed using descriptive statistics with the determination of the mean and standard deviation, through scales with the range of values. The results show that the innovation variable as a public policy is at a moderate level, showing great weaknesses in fundamental elements in the research centers of public higher education institutions.