The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Daniel Filmus, and the President of the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Anna Franchi, traveled this Thursday to the city of Rosario, Province of Santa Fe, for a business tour and inauguration of the Institute of Biotechnology and Chemical Processes of Rosario (IPROByQ – CONICET) It is a hub for the local entrepreneurship ecosystem. The head of the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development and Innovation (the Agency for Research and Development), Fernando Pierano, was part of the delegation.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Science and CONICET have invested more than 604 million pesos in the scientific infrastructure in the province, with the aim of strengthening the federalization of the science and technology system across the country.
During his visit, Filmus pointed out that “Rosario is one of the most important centers of scientific research and technology transfer in Argentina.” In addition, the Minister of Science considered that our country “has a huge primary production capacity that must be supplemented by industrial development.” Finally, he highlighted the contribution of CONICET: “Argentina is one of the few countries that has developed a COVID-19 detection test that has made it possible to meet and export domestic demand; even the chin strap we wear has something to do with this.”
In his speech, Franchi said: “This institute shows what science and technology can do to production, how effective public-private collaboration is, and the importance of our human resources, which has made everything we’ve done possible in the face of the pandemic and these companies that are here in Rosario and across the country.” The President of CONICET noted, “This is something we must not forget: human resources are a very big investment for the country of Argentina and this is a great example of what can be done. I congratulate you.”
In turn, Pierano said: “When public policies are in place, ideas become projects and projects become new companies and new actors, bringing prosperity through more jobs, exports and solutions.” “Today we see this when we see how projects grow in Santa Fe that have had national and regional support,” emphasized the head of R+D+i.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Marina Paima, and the authorities of the Rosario CCT were present in the province: its director, Florencio Podestá; Deputy Director Cristina Carrillo; IQUIR Director, Sandra Signorella, and General Coordinator, Javier Martinez. On behalf of CONICET, Vice President of Technology Affairs, Roberto Rivarola, attended.
Filmus, Franchi and Peirano began their visit to the facilities of the Scientific and Technological Center (CCT – CONICET), where they toured the infrastructure work being developed at the Center for the Studies of Photosynthesis and Biochemistry (CEFOBI), the Institute of Experimental Physiology (IFISE). Rosario Chemistry (IQUIR). It should be noted that the province of Santa Fe and CONICET have invested more than 90 million pesos in the CCT Rosario business, while MINCyT and CONICET contributed to CEFOBI and IFISE 250 million pesos; And about 220 million for IQUIR.
Later, the authorities moved to the technology-based company Keclon, one of the first companies in the country founded by scientists from CONICET. Founded in 2012, the company is the first in Latin America to dedicate itself to the development and marketing of enzymes with a focus on the edible oil, food, biodiesel and animal feed industries. There they were received by the founders Hugo Menzilla – a scientist repatriated -; Salvador Piero Andres Aguirre and Maria Eugenia Castelli.
Between 2013 and 2019, Kiklon received a total contribution of 35,087,684 pesos from the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development and Innovation (R + D + i), through the financing of three projects. Thanks to this, the company was in a position to receive, in a second round, investments from the private sector totaling $ 14 million.
The Minister of Science, the President of CONICET and the Head of the R + D + i Agency completed their agenda with the opening of the Institute of Biotechnology and Chemical Processes in Rosario (IPROByQ – CONICET), which they jointly invested with the National University of Rosario (UN) 87 million pesos. IPROByQ aims to create a meeting and exchange space where recipients of the Emprende EBT Regional Award can present their projects to the entrepreneurship ecosystem, as well as to potential investors and suppliers. There, the outgoing Director of CCT Rosario, Florencio Podestá, and Roberto Rivarola, were honored for their appointment to the CONICET Board of Directors in the Greater Area of Exact and Natural Sciences.
