However, the search continues, both for a similar compound and for disruptive technology capable of revolutionizing the way we live. A project with the potential to detonate an industry and, therefore, the economy, but one that we will hardly see originate in Mexico, because scientific research does not enjoy much public support or private interest.
Science and technological advances have the ability to change the human paradigm and redefine the world around us. The printing press allowed the spread of ideas and precipitated historical events such as the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. The steam engine began the industrial era, transforming production and laying the foundations for urbanization and a new way of living.
The telephone brought people closer together, while the internet has opened the doors to information and brought together entire communities around the world. The examples could go on, but the lesson is clear, certain technological advances have the power to redefine our world quickly and significantly.
Room-temperature superconductivity heralded a similar impact, promising to transform our world’s technology. This would allow greater efficiency in the transmission of electrical energy, without significant losses due to resistance, as well as greater energy storage and its use through mobile devices without overheating. In addition, it would enable faster and more efficient data transmission, and even means of transportation based on magnetic levitation that would seem to defy gravity, among many other things.
Innovation is an integral part of human development and an important driver for the economy. Although the LK-99 compound did not turn out to be the holy grail that was expected, entire teams continue working in the search for a true superconductor, now motivated by the advances and “mistakes” that contribute to scientific development. A discovery like LK-99 means not only an advance in science, but the birth of an entire industry full of commercial opportunities with ramifications far beyond its epicenter.
So, would it be feasible to see these kinds of innovations originate in Mexico? There is no reason why not. The nation has high-profile scientists who have made important contributions to the world of science, however, research and scientific advancement require support and financing, two areas in which Mexico is lagging behind.
To contextualize, according to OECD data, South Korea is positioned as the second member with the most investment in the field of Scientific Research and Experimental Development (GIDE), allocating 4.81% of its GDP in 2020. Meanwhile, Mexico is among the members that invest the least, with approximately 0.30 of their GDP in the same year. Furthermore, Mexico is among the 10 countries in the world with the most “brain drain”, that is, highly qualified labor migration in search of better opportunities.