Argentina and the African Union sign scientific and technological cooperation agreement

On Wednesday, Argentina and the African Union signed a scientific and technological cooperation agreement to promote joint research in biotechnology applied to agriculture and health, energy transition, and the aerospace sector, informed the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of the South American country.

The agreement was signed this day in Buenos Aires by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the African Union, Mohammed Belhocine, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Argentina, Daniel Filmus, who stressed the importance of South-South cooperation.

“We are convinced that we can continue to strengthen South-South cooperation. We have the same problems and concerns in many cases, and we rely on science and technology to solve and improve the quality of life of our people,” said Filmus.

The Argentine official remarked, “with this memorandum, we are launching a deeper articulation between Argentina and the African Union through a cooperation that will allow us to value the enormous work of our scientists and implement common strategies”.

The document contemplates joint collaboration in biotechnology applied to agriculture, health, food security, energy transition, and aerospace.

“It also seeks to promote collaboration in technological and scientific research initiatives, stimulating south-south cooperation and the establishment of work schemes for the satisfactory implementation of the memorandum,” the official information indicated.

The proposed implementation mechanisms include establishing joint calls for proposals, organizing seminars, specific workshops, and scientific and technological symposiums to exchange non-confidential information, knowledge, and good practices among experts.

It also provides for human talent training activities, primarily through the short-term exchange of graduate students, the implementation of research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) projects with the participation of the productive sector to promote technology transfer, and the performance of a human resources training scholarship program.