Web ontology and semantics for governance of scientific research and technological development in inputs for public health

Abstract

The increasing adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) in public administration has changed the way governments make the purchases of products and service procurement, activities that are essential for the rendering of services in quantities and quality appropriate to meet the needs of the population. The present project suggests the use of a type of ICT aiming at good governance of scientific research and technological development in inputs for health at the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz: Web semantics and ontologies. From a theoretical point of view, this project is in tune with one of the emerging approaches for the understanding and outlining of current policies for research and technological development in health - an innovation systems approach. Despite the economic advantages of the adoption of electronic methods in governmental purchasing policy, it is necessary to keep in mind that it is a long term change process, since many administrative stages are being transferred to the electronic environment, requiring a new work flow design, as well as integration of electronic purchasing and management and administration systems such as, for instance, orders, purchase orders, logistics, finance and accounting. We propose the sharing of ontologies so as to allow interoperability between systems used in the purchasing process as well as in other key institutional management and administration systems.