In response to the adjustment policies of the government of Javier Milei, the CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council) denounced an unprecedented defunding.
This is highlighted in a concerning statement released by the Network of Directors of Technological Scientific Centers of the national science organization.
It points out that the CONICET faces a defunding that paralyzes scientific research in all Argentine provinces, according to its directors.
This is due to a series of decisions by the National Agency for the Promotion of Research, Technological Development, and Innovation (Agency I+D+i).
In particular, approved projects were canceled and key research calls were closed.
For this reason, the authorities of the CONICET expressed a “deep institutional concern” about the situation of the entity in a context of state adjustment.
The defunding of CONICET directly affects the Scientific and Technological Research Projects (PICT), which are fundamental for the operation of centers throughout the country.
CONICET: projects canceled and calls closed
According to the directors of the CONICET, the Agency I+D+i canceled the PICT 2022 calls that already had budget allocation and commitment.
Additionally, the PICT 2023 call was closed and a new modality was announced that excludes areas of knowledge.
The directors described these measures as “an unprecedented setback” that represents “a break in the sustained development of the scientific system”.
The statement bears the signatures of all the directors of the different CONICET branches across the country.
The declaration emphasizes that “basic research is the engine of knowledge and a foundation without which there is no genuine and sovereign technological innovation“.
Ignoring the set of areas of knowledge implies, according to the document, “drastically restricting the country’s ability to face complex challenges”.
It should be noted that the Argentine scientific-technological system not only includes CONICET but also organizations such as INTA, INTI, CNEA, and national universities.
In this regard, the directors pointed out that this system “is a strategic asset of the Nation that cannot operate without sustained public funding”.
The four critical impacts of CONICET’s defunding
The CONICET statement identified serious consequences of the defunding of the national scientific system:
- Affecting institutional trust: the cancellation of evaluated and approved projects causes “irreparable damage to research planning”
- Marginalization of basic sciences: the exclusion of these areas represents “a limited and impoverishing vision”
- Paralysis of the federal system: the interruption of funding will paralyze research in all provinces
- Reduction of diversity: limiting calls to a single modality restricts the ability to promote R&D+i
It should be noted that the Technological Scientific Centers distributed federally critically depend on the PICT to acquire equipment, supplies, and maintain infrastructures.
Therefore, the defunding also exacerbates regional asymmetries and limits equitable development.
CONICET’s proposal in the face of defunding
The CONICET directors requested three concrete actions from national authorities to reverse the defunding:
- Reestablish and honor the commitments of the PICT 2022 call, in which “hundreds of people worked”;
- reopen and guarantee calls like PICT 2023.
- maintain a plural and federal funding modality that recognizes “the critical need for investment in sciences“.
Following this, the statement concludes firmly: “Argentine science requires stability, predictability, and a long-term strategic vision that promotes excellence within a framework of inclusive productive and social development“.
