The study explores the role of Science and Technology (S&T) policies in NRB economies, focusing on the cases of Chile and Finland. Several authors have identified the exploitation of natural resources as a limiting-long-term factor affecting economic growth. Finland and Chile are worthy cases to study. Whereas the former was able to leave behind its Natural Resources Abundance (NRA) dependency by means of implementing policies promoting S&T as a driving economic force, the latter, albeit its successful open-market and export-led strategy, has not overcome the NRA hurdle. Using analytical tools I analyze first the S&T contribution to national income per capita over the 1981-2000 period, and second the relationship between S&T expenditures and NRA in both countries. I explain the diverging S&T performances in light of three factors: institutions, education, and decentralization.