Cooperation agreement between the CQUniversity of Australia, CONICET and MINCyT

The National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MINCyT) signed a cooperation agreement with the Central Queensland University of Australia. The objective is to exchange information and scientific experience and technique, as well as jointly organize various activities such as seminars, workshops, meetings, exchange visits by experts, academics and delegations and joint cooperation to generate publications and participate in relevant regional and international forums, among other objectives.

During the signing, the president of CONICET Ana Franchi expressed: “For CONICET and MINCyT as institutions at the service of science and technology, it is important to resume South-South cooperation.” And she stressed that this agreement addresses common research topics such as renewable energies, marine ecosystems and intelligent agricultural systems, among others. “This joint work is fundamental because it strengthens the international cooperation tools with the already established research groups.” In addition, she highlighted the academic and dynamic offer of CQ University and the federal nature of the agreement.

For his part, Minister Filmus thanked the delegation for the visit to the Scientific and Technological Pole and mentioned that during the official mission to India in the G20 he met with the head of Science and Technology of Australia where “we set four priority issues: the energy transition, the Antarctic theme and its preservation, biotechnology in the agricultural sector, and nuclear energy applied to health” and pointed out the Opal reactor in Australia where Argentine professionals worked. The Minister highlighted South-South cooperation with a scientific and technological perspective.

He continued, “It is a good time to strengthen the relationship. Argentina is a federal country and we seek to decentralize and bring capacities to all the country. We hope we can have more exchanges and collaborations. Science cannot be interpreted if it is not globally”, he affirmed.

In this framework, the president of the CQUniversity Nick Klomp highlighted that this agreement with CONICET will expand collaborations in the region in new areas such as marine and freshwater sciences, health and engineering. “Through our renowned research centers and institutes, including our Institute for Future Farming Systems (IFFS), Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Center (CMERC), Appleton Institute, and Center for Railway Engineering, we hope to establish new collaborations and joint programs”.

The event was attended by the Undersecretary for the Federalization of Science of the MINCyT and member of the CONICET Board of Directors Luz Lardone, the National Director of Promotion of Scientific Policy at MINCYT Karina Pombo, Eugenia Tola and Mariana Miguez Murillas of the CONICET International Cooperation team and from the National Directorate for the Promotion of Scientific Policy and International Affairs of the MINCyT Santiago Domínguez and Constanza Galarza Seeber, authorities and staff of CQUniversity.

Extraordinary session of the COFECyT annual meeting

Within the framework of the annual meeting of the Federal Council of Science and Technology (COFECyT), an extraordinary session of the Executive Committee was held, headed by CONICET President Ana Franchi, the Undersecretary for the Federalization of Science of the MINCyT and a member of the CONICET Board of Directors. Luz Lardone, the vice president of COFECyT Mauro Carrasco and the director of the Institute of Agricultural Systems of the Future of the CQUniversity of Australia, Michael Thomson.

The objective of this joint activity with the International Cooperation area of ​​CONICET and the National Directorate for the Promotion of Scientific Policy and International Affairs of MINCyT is to present to the CQUniversity delegation the current state of research in science and technology, the current agreements with other countries and the Integrated Territorial Agendas (ATI) for science, technology and innovation. In turn, the representative of the CQUniversity presented the academic offer and the scheme of the research groups of the University and its potential for researchers in Argentina.

Within this framework, the president of CONICET held this tripartite event between the Council, the MINCyT and the CQUniversity of Australia to strengthen international cooperation on issues of common interest: “It is a virtuous meeting because for the first time representatives of science and cooperation participate Corrientes, Córdoba, San Juan, Patagonia and Northwest Argentina. In this way, we continue to bet on the federalization of science and technology and the consolidation of South-South cooperation to be able to work together on issues on the global agenda”.

The regional representatives were present at the meeting: Federico Saravia (Metropolitan); Pablo de Chiara (Center); Luciana Craviotto (Whose); Miriam Serrano (NOA); Juan Martin Fernández (NEA) and Alejandra Man (Patagonia). On behalf of CONICET’s International Cooperation area, Eugenia Tola and Mariana Miguez Murillas and the National Directorate for the Promotion of Scientific Policy and International Affairs of MINCyT Santiago Domínguez attended.