The Conference on Science, Innovation and Information and Communications Technologies was established pursuant to resolution 672(XXXIV) of the thirty-fourth session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and resolution 2012/35 of the Economic and Social Council, as a subsidiary body of ECLAC.

The Conference is a permanent forum for policy and technical dialogue at the highest level on science, innovation and information and communications technologies  that facilitates the coordination of action and knowledge-sharing to improve the quality and effectiveness of policies in these areas. It is also intended to strengthen the role of science, technology and innovation in the pursuit of greater sophistication, diversification and structural change in these economies to improve productivity and competitiveness, in an environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive manner.

The Conference convenes mainly the high-level authorities responsible for science, technology and innovation policies in each country. The Conference periodically holds meetings to elect the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Executive Committee, and to define priorities, activities and workplans.