To mark the anniversary of Bernardo Houssay’s birth – a day celebrated in Argentina as Researchers’ Day – a meeting was held to foster dialogue between the research community and the Provincial Government.
The meeting, led by the Minister for Productive Development of Santa Fe, Gustavo Puccini, and the Secretary for Science, Technology and Innovation, Érica Hynes, and her team, aimed to present and exchange views on the STI policy promoted by the provincial government, incorporating technical input and perspectives from the sector.
Science as part of Santa Fe’s productive engine
Puccini stated that science “is not something confined to a laboratory, but rather forms part of the province’s productive engine, offering opportunities for Santa Fe’s production to grow through greater science and innovation”, whilst lamenting: “Today in Argentina, there is not even any discussion or debate about the fact that science enables growth”.
The minister said that the major challenge is to advance the participation of “various working groups within a framework of dialogue with each productive sector, to identify an idea and an objective for that cluster to grow” and thus develop “responses, tools and solutions between the public and private sectors”.
The minister assured that “Santa Fe will demonstrate that we are not content with lamenting or criticising what the national government fails to do, but rather with the investments we are making and the human talent we possess, which is the best in the country, and we will show how we are changing people’s lives”.
For his part, Hynes highlighted that “10 April is a special date for every researcher in the country” as “it does not merely involve recognising the glorious past of Argentine science and the institutionalisation of the research career in the figure of Houssay, but commits us to the relevance of the current task and to the future”.
Science and technology as a human right
The director of the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology in Rosario, Alejandro Vila, stated that “science has the power to transform a society” and highlighted that in Santa Fe there is “a thriving scientific and technical community, supported by a government that engages, listens and provides funding, at a time when there is a lack of young talent and enthusiasm, with young people leaving the country; we must therefore motivate them by demonstrating that there are opportunities to conduct science that has a local impact”.
For his part, the director of the Centre for Research in Computational Methods at UNL-Conicet, Damian Ramajo, called for “rethinking science through state policies to achieve productive objectives”.
Finally, Darío Maiorana, a member of the Executive Council of the Santa Fe Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation, acknowledged that “enjoying the benefits of science, research and technology is a human right”, and therefore called for “raising greater awareness in society so that people realise that investing in science is just as important as investing in health”.
Covered topics
With the participation of over 30 researchers, drawn from the management teams of institutes based in the province and from projects funded by the Santa Fe Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation, a participatory session was held focusing on three key areas: case studies and experiences, prioritisation of investment, and mutual commitment to building a developed and equitable Santa Fe.
The discussion aimed to draw on national and international examples of applied or basic research, technology development, partnership projects, co-creation, or similar initiatives that have boosted the competitiveness of a productive sector, improved public policy in a key area, or contributed to civil society organisations and their networks.
During the discussion on investment areas, the group reviewed which sectors are most critically affected by the significant reduction in the budget for scientific research and technological development decided by the national government.
The final topic discussed concerned the commitment to ongoing research projects, future directions and ideas in the pipeline relating to productive development and the well-being of the people of Santa Fe. The meeting concluded with a session for in-depth discussion and dialogue between the R&D and management teams.
