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Secretariat of Science, technology and Innovative Production

Website: http://www.secyt.gov.ar/

SECyT is the highest political and coordinating body within the Argentinean science, technology and innovation system., having the responsibility of representing and coordinating the interest and participation of Argentina in international cooperation agreements and programs. As such SECyT represents Argentina´s science and technology interest in both the Argentina – EU and the Mercosur – EU association agreements and through out the ALCUE process. Within the Argentinean context SECyT acts through setting overall priorities for public investments in Sc&T and administering the main promotional instruments. Policy orientation and priorities are set in the National Science and Technology Plan and in the National Programs for Strategic Areas: The high priority of agriculture and food quality and safety is clearly explicit in the fact that two of the seven national programs defined for the current implementation period is in this area. The programs for “competitiveness in food production” and “agricultural health and food quality” are aimed incorporating a food chain view to the management of the challenges that the country has to confront in the rapidly changing international food and agricultural markets. Issues such as GMOs, food borne diseases, traceability systems, alternative production systems, natural foods, etc. are given high priority in the operational definition of the program’s priorities and are expected to constitute the cornerstone of the country’s international efforts in this field. Promotional instruments include competitive funds for research support as well as for promoting innovation in the private sector and public-private sector ventures in areas of high priority.

From the implementation point of view SECyT works in coordination with sectorial R&D institutions and is in charge of the advanced research centers of Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET). SECyT will bring this well diversified experience, covering from prospective studies and policy development to operational priority setting and direct R&D activities implementation and will also actively seek to integrate them to other regional and subregional programs such as CABBIO.