AMBASSADOR PURSUES MORE BILATERAL COOPERATION WITH

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001280 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/STC AND OES/IHB DEPT PLEASE PASS TO NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE HHS FOR OFFICE OF GLOBAL HEALTH AFFAIRS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO TPHY PGOV PREL AR SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PURSUES MORE BILATERAL COOPERATION WITH ARGENTINA'S SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MINISTER BARANAO REF: BUENOS AIRES 00603 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador met on November 19 with Science and Technology Minister Lino Baranao to inquire about the GoA's priorities and to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation. Baranao expressed his interest in moving Argentina from a culture of pure scientific research to one where research translates into new ventures and job creation. He called for increased exchanges with U.S. universities, which the Ambassador offered to foster with universities in California and Texas. Baranao also asked for USG assistance for an event in September 2010 to celebrate Argentina's Bicentennial, which would bring together the major U.S. scientific agencies and their Argentine counterparts. The event would be a retrospective of past cooperation and a look to the future. After the meeting, the Ambassador, along with Health Minister Juan Manzur, witnessed Baranao's signing of a cancer research agreement, the "United States-Latin America Cancer Research Network" (US-LACRN),which aims to develop a greater understanding of breast cancer in Hispanic populations in Latin America and the United States. We believe that continued investment in developing partnerships in science and technology will help strengthen our overall bilateral relationship. End Summary. -------------- A FOCUS ON TRANSLATING RESEARCH INTO JOBS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Minister Baranao highlighted the existing cooperation with numerous USG agencies, such as NASA, the National Institutes of Health (NIH),and the National Science Foundation (NSF),among many others. He called for expanded contacts with leading U.S. universities, to which the Ambassador offered to extend linkages with universities in Texas and California. Baranao said that one of his major goals was to attract to Argentina not only academics but also research and development high-tech companies. He explained that he wanted to change the scientific culture in Argentina, which he characterized as too focused on pure research and the production of papers. His goal is to develop increasing links between research and the creation of new ventures and high-paying jobs. "It is important to show that our investment in science translates into jobs," he noted. To this effect, Baranao wants to foster fluid communication and joint projects between universities and companies. ¶3. (SBU) "We want to avoid a brain drain," Baranao said, pointing to the small number of companies involved in science and technology in Argentina, especially spin-offs from research. Baranao noted that the S&T Ministry was working with an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan to address this problem. "Argentina has good scientists but lacks good managers who can handle the transfer of technology from research into new technology and new companies," he said. He added that Argentina's financial system was not set up to help dynamic companies to expand into export markets. "Brazil has a better system with BANDES (Brazil's development bank)", he said, "but we will make a proposal to the IDB in this respect." Baranao also highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships. -------------- COOPERATION IN CANCER RESEARCH -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Following the meeting, the Ambassador, along with Health Minister Juan Manzur, witnessed Baranao's signing of a cancer research agreement, the "United States-Latin America Cancer Research Network" (US-LACRN),which aims to develop a greater understanding of breast cancer in Hispanic populations in Latin America and the United States and further cancer research and treatment infrastructure. Manzur took this opportunity with the press present to announce that the Ministry of Health planned to establish in Argentina a national cancer institute. He expressed hope that this institute would be up and running within a few months, thanks to assistance and advice from the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI). -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Science and technology, as well as health, are among the highlights of our bilateral cooperation with Argentina. The just-signed cancer research agreement is bound to have a significant social impact in Argentina, as will certainly have the national cancer institute, when it is operational. These are good news stories. In other scientific areas, from space cooperation to nanotechnology to bio-engineering, the contacts between U.S. and Argentine researchers are multiple and fruitful. Continued investment in developing partnerships in science and technology will help strengthen our overall bilateral relationship. MARTINEZ MARTINEZ