Budget woes threaten Argentina science and technology

Subject

The outlook for science and technology in Argentina.

Significance

The software industry has grown rapidly in the last two decades, driven by a substantial base of technical workers, the presence of key global players and favourable legislation. Software is the main pillar of the knowledge-based services industry, which as a whole is Argentina’s fourth-largest export complex. As a labour-intensive industry, software has also become an important source of employment.

Impacts

• A reliable legal framework and macroeconomic stability are key to the software sector’s future growth.
• Argentina has cutting-edge technology in the nuclear and aerospace fields, but its potential and importance are underrated.
• Budgetary troubles and diverging priorities will put public education and strong scientific institutions at risk.