The incursion of information professionals into technological surveillance and strategic intelligence in Argentina

Abstract

Technological surveillance and Strategic intelligence are areas of influence for library and information science (LIS), since they involve functions of search, management and dissemination of specialized information. They represent an expansion of professional concerns within the scientific and technological field, while necessarily involving an interdisciplinary approach. The present study describes the link between the profile of the information professional, the VTeIE process and the National System of Science, Technology and Innovation (NSSTI) in Argentina. To this end, a survey and analysis of the official websites of the public member agencies was carried out and interviews and questionnaires were conducted with experts. The results reveal that information professionals make up 31% of the work teams analyzed and that they are currently assuming a leading role in the NSSTI bodies that perform this type of process, generating products with high added value for knowledge management and innovation. In conclusion, these findings highlight the current technological profile of LIS, the importance of its participation in the scientific field and its fundamental role in the strategic monitoring of information through Technological Surveillance and Strategic Intelligence processes.