The Province of Buenos Aires announced the funding of seven federal research networks comprised of 25 public universities from all over the country. The total investment will be 313 million pesos, allocated to projects addressing energy, water, health, environment, marine studies, federalism, and youth employment.
The measure arises in a context of significant national cuts to the scientific system, with more than 5,000 professionals leaving their positions due to salary loss, lack of resources, and institutional weakening.
Call and Objectives
The initiative, called “Buenos Aires Projects for the Federalization of Science and Technology”, was promoted by the Scientific Research Commission (CIC) together with the Buenos Aires Ministry of Government.
Each network must include between three and five universities, including at least one institution from Buenos Aires and another from a province with a cooperation agreement. The selected projects will receive 40 million pesos each, plus seed funds granted in the preparatory stage.
Participating Universities
The network includes 11 universities based in Buenos Aires and 14 from other jurisdictions, among them:
- Misiones
- Neuquén
- La Rioja
- Córdoba
- Entre Ríos
- La Pampa
- San Luis
- Jujuy
- Tierra del Fuego
- Río Negro
This scheme aims to support research weakened by national defunding and strengthen interprovincial cooperation.
Priority Research Areas
The networks will work on strategic issues related to production and daily life:
- Energy transition.
- Access and management of water resources.
- Marine studies and coastal ecosystems.
- Health and public health policies.
- Climate change and environment.
- Federalism and territorial governance.
- Youth employment and social development.
Selection Process
The call had two stages:
- 19 applications were submitted.
- A jury preselected 11 projects, comprised of 39 university nodes.
- Finally, seven initiatives were selected to receive full funding.
National Context
Since December 2023, Javier Milei’s government has implemented a cutting policy on scientific organizations and national universities. According to the Buenos Aires diagnosis, the national budget for science and technology in 2026 shows a drop of nearly 50% in real terms compared to previous years.
The departure of more than 5,000 scientists and technologists implies a loss of accumulated knowledge, interruption of projects, and weakening of capacities developed over decades.
Federal and Social Impact
The Buenos Aires funding does not replace a national policy, but seeks to support teams and prevent strategic research from fading out. The benefit for universities will be twofold:
- Funds to develop research in priority areas.
- Network work with institutions from other provinces, sharing capacities, equipment, and territorial knowledge.
The presence of universities from provinces such as Misiones, Jujuy, Tierra del Fuego, Río Negro, La Rioja, or La Pampa shows the intention to expand the scientific map beyond the metropolitan area.
The Province of Buenos Aires presents a policy of applied science with its own funds and university articulation.
Amid the national adjustment, the goal is to sustain useful research to solve public problems and preserve capacities that, once lost, are difficult to recover.
