Background
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face persistent structural gaps in cancer research, development and innovation (R&D&I), particularly at the territorial level, where disparities in institutional capacity, human resources, infrastructure and governance often remain insufficiently measured. The absence of standardized, cancer-specific metrics limits evidence-informed decision-making and constrains the design of targeted policies aimed at strengthening research and innovation capacities.
Objectives
To design a territorial index of cancer R&D&I capacities oriented toward comprehensive cancer control, with the aim of supporting capacity building, territorial planning and policy formulation in LMIC settings.
Methods
A multi-stage methodological framework was developed using Colombia as a case study. International and national benchmarking exercises were conducted to identify relevant conceptual references and measurement practices in science, technology and innovation. Based on this review, a hierarchical composite index was designed, structured into five strategic pillars, sixteen subpillars and fifty-one indicators encompassing institutional and governance conditions, human capital, investment and infrastructure, technological development, and knowledge generation and appropriation. Indicator selection was supported by technical validation, stakeholder consultation and assessment of data availability from official administrative and open-access sources. Indicators were normalized using a min–max approach and aggregated through simple averages, progressing sequentially from indicators to subpillars, pillars and a final composite index.
Results
The finalized index design provides a structured and replicable framework to characterize territorial cancer R&D&I capacities. The methodological architecture and calculation equation were fully defined, ensuring transparency, comparability and reproducibility across territories. The index is intended to enable the identification of territorial strengths, gaps and asymmetries in cancer-related R&D&I capacities, offering a conceptual and methodological diagnostic framework to inform future prioritization and strategic investment once implemented. Although the application phase is pending, the completed design demonstrates the feasibility of using composite indicators to assess cancer R&D&I capacities in LMIC contexts based primarily on existing data sources.
Conclusions
The territorial cancer R&D&I capacity index constitutes a foundational capacity-building instrument to support LMICs in systematically assessing and, in subsequent implementation phases, strengthening their cancer research and innovation ecosystems. By providing a standardized, transparent and transferable measurement framework, the index is designed to inform evidence-informed policy-making once applied and to guide future efforts aimed at addressing territorial inequalities in cancer control. The proposed approach can be adapted to other LMIC settings seeking to align cancer research capacity strengthening with broader public health and development priorities.