In 1999, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to sign a cooperation agreement in science, technology and innovation with the EU. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this cooperation, a series of meetings were held between June 3 and 11, 2019 at the Palermo Science and Technology Pole. Bilateral cooperation with the European Union constitutes one of the most solid, effective and strategic alliances that our country has in science, technology and innovation.
As a result of this relationship, Argentine scientists and technologists participate with a high success rate in international calls that involve collaborative work and receive funding from the European Commission. During the days that the event lasted, workshops, open information days and work tables were held organized by the Argentina-European Union Liaison Office under the National Directorate for Institutional Cooperation and Integration of the Government Secretariat for Science, Technology and Productive Innovation. The cycle was inaugurated on Monday, June 3 with the Visibility Workshop "Technology Transfer in Argentina", the opening of which was attended by the Undersecretary of Policies in Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Sebastián Guerriere.
For her part, on Tuesday, June 4, the Undersecretary of Institutional Coordination, Paula Nahirñak, began the Workshop on Potential European Collaboration in the Development of Financial Technologies, where she highlighted the importance of cooperation in science and technology policies being sustained in time.
On Wednesday June 5, the Annual Meeting of National Contact Points (NCP) was held before the Research and Innovation Framework Program "Horizon 2020", which was attended by the General Coordinator of the Argentina-European Union Liaison Office, Alejandra Davidziuk, and the Director of Institutional Cooperation and Integration, Mariano Jordán, who stressed that it is in these meetings where policies for the improvement of the productive matrix and the generation of employment arise. During the meeting, the new members were introduced and the work strategies were displayed.
On Wednesday the Regional Workshop on the control of Anti-Microbial Resistance was also given, inaugurated by the Undersecretary of Institutional Evaluation, Lucas Luchilo, who highlighted the importance of networked approaches in the international arena with organizations such as the European Union. Luca Pierantoni, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union in Argentina participated in the opening, who stressed that it was the first time that a workshop of this nature and magnitude was held in the region on this subject of primary validity and importance. The activity was attended by specialists who had the opportunity to generate strategic links and potential partnerships for joint collaborations.
On Thursday June 6, Secretary Barañao inaugurated the Scientific Diplomacy workshop - Towards the construction of a national concept, guiding future diplomats and referents on the subject. During his speech, Barañao said that "The domain of technology is a global debate and this requires that the diplomat have to understand what it is about." In addition, he stated that science and technology are a universal language and that is why "they allow the building of diplomatic ties that help the region acquire the necessary weight to position itself in the globalized economy." In the opening panel, the Secretary of Government was accompanied by the Director of International Cooperation of the Directorate General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, Cristina Russo; the Head of the European Union Delegation in Argentina, Ambassador Aude Maio-Coliche; the Director of the National Foreign Service Institute (ISEN), Ambassador Fernando Petrella and the National Director for Institutional Cooperation and Integration in the SGCTeIP, Minister Mariano Jordán. In the afternoon, a panel dedicated to the "Role of representations abroad and the relationship with other bodies of the National Public Administration" was held by the Secretary of the Embassy Guillermo Alberto Simunovich and Lic. Agustina Velo from the Argentine Liaison Office -EU.
On Friday, June 7, in the morning, the 11th Meeting of the Joint Steering Committee (RCDC) of the Cooperation Agreement was held, which was co-chaired by Mariano Jordán and María Cristina Russo and brought together the technical teams and advisers from both parties. The delegations presented the main advances in research and innovation policies and programs, exchanged points of view and agreed to intensify cooperation in the areas of bioeconomy, marine research and health research, satellite observation and open access, among other fields. The Joint Communiqué issued at the end of the 11th RCDC can be consulted here.
At the close of the 11th RCDC, the Secretary Barañao, the Director Jordán, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Argentina, Aude Maio-Coliche and the Director of International Cooperation of the General Directorate of Research and Innovation of the European Commission, Maria-Cristina Russo, spoke at the Conference 20 years of cooperation between Argentina and the European Union in Science and Technology in which the Argentine scientific system and its ties with Europe were addressed. Barañao highlighted the importance of building inter-institutional networks, whose relevance is reflected in the construction of interdisciplinary centers in the country, and also referred to the need to link the scientific and industrial system so that Argentina could position itself in the globalized economy. International cooperation was another of the important points mentioned by the Secretary: "Argentina has potential, it is always recognized for the capacity of its human resources and that we have to value. That is why this association with the European Union is so important, because It allows us to establish links and that this transcends the field of scientific research and becomes an economic activity. " He also added that another important dimension that Argentine science has to address is inclusive innovation: "Argentina has 30% of the population that does not have access to their basic basic needs, and the scientific system cannot turn its back on this situation. It is the responsibility of the State to guarantee job opportunities to people. " For this, he said: "It is necessary to link the small producer with the international market and in this task, international cooperation is clearly always welcome, but with this added dimension of not only thinking about the creation of knowledge but about how to apply it to improve quality. life of our citizens. "
Other activities carried out include the Argentina-Germany cooperation round table (June 10), the Plenary Meeting of the Roads Project (June 10 and 11), Information Day about the financing opportunities offered by the Commission's programs Europea and the Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in which the preliminary lines of the Argentine National Artificial Intelligence Plan were presented. Throughout the week, national and international experts spoke on each of the topics, national institutions such as CONICET, INTA, INTI, ISEN, Co.Na.Cra, National Offices of Technological Linkage of public and private universities, national and European business chambers participated. and the European Parliament, companies and incubators, associations, clusters and NGOs.
To see the presentations made enter here
