Mexico is an OECD member country that historically has allocated less than half a per cent of its gross domestic product to spend on research and experimental development. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the country's science and technology policy through its main program, the National System of Researchers (SNI), an attempt made for the first time. The results obtained make it possible to see whether the SNI has succeeded in improving research in Mexico. The authors also look at whether the program provides ways of improving and strengthening the science policy model adopted by Mexico and whether it could be extended and/or introduced into other nearby countries with levels of development or characteristics similar to those of Mexico.