Fernando Vargas is a PhD fellow in Economics and Governance, with a specialisation in the economics and policy studies of technical change.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Economics from the University of Chile and a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the same university. He is currently a Competitiveness, Technology, and Innovation Specialist of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Before joining UNU-MERIT, he worked at the IDB, where he held advisory and research management responsibilities for Latin American public agencies in the design and implementation of innovation surveys. Previous work experience includes responsibilities at the National Innovation Council for Competitiveness (CNIC) and the National Statistics Institute, both in Chile. His field of interest is mainly focused on understanding the determinants of innovation, innovation strategies, and productivity in firms in Latin America and their implications for public policy design.