Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
practice in Argentina. The Argentinean economy is still mainly
dependent on export of commodities, including agricultural products
and raw materials. Almost two-thirds of exports are agricultural or
food products (EVD 2009). One aim of the national nanotechnology
activities is to increase the value added to exports, but it is unclear
how international structures influence the success in achieving this
goal.
5.
Access to higher education and research jobs:
Globally, Argentina ranks
35th on the HDI “Combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross
enrolment ratio,” with 88.6%; thus, in general, the population has
access to education. In nanotechnology, the current nanotechnology
networks offer employment to hundreds of nanoscientists and in
the Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
(CINN), 60 PhD students will be trained. This is sufficient to fill
the research jobs in nanotechnology in academia but not to fulfill
potential demand for trained staff in industry (Nanotechnology in
Argentina, Malsch 2008a). The main bottleneck appears to be a lack
of funding. There is no information on access to higher education
and research jobs for deprived groups in Argentina.
6.
Target research to poverty and health-related problems:
Nanotechnology
development in Argentina focuses on applications in health care.
Diagnostics and medical therapy, and (bio)sensors for food qual-
ity, environment, medicine, and biosecurity are among the foreseen
application areas of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is expected to
contribute to sustainable agrifood production, and prevention and
attention for health. Most Argentinean nanotechnology patents are
in nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology. It is not so clear how much
of it will benefit the poor.
7.
Environmental sustainability:
In Argentina, nanotechnology is expected
to contribute to knowledge and sustainable use of natural renewable
resources and protection of the environment; however, the actual
investment in such applications appears to be modest. It is not clear
whether the Argentinean government will be able to protect the envi-
ronment and consumers against potential risks of products made with
nanomaterials. Also, the budget for risk assessment of nanomaterials
is unknown and it is unclear whether and how much rich countries
will contribute to protecting less developed countries from potential
risks of nanomaterials.
13.4.2.1 Conclusions for Argentina
In this section, the nanotechnology policy in Argentina has been analyzed to
identify bottlenecks for sustainable nanotechnology development and what
role international cooperation could play. Whereas public participation in
