17-11-16  Fotakis, Argentinian Ambassador discuss Science, Technology cooperation

Alternate Education, Research and Religious Affairs Minister Kostas Fotakis held talks in Athens today with Argentina’s Ambassador to Athens, Carolina Perez Colman, regarding cooperation in the Science and Technology sector, in which both countries have expressed an interest.

Fotakis and Perez Colman expressed their intention to activate a bilateral agreement signed in Buenos Aires in 2008, but they also mutually expanded the prospects of cooperation in maritime research, space, nuclear technology, and agri food.

Fotakis also proposed to the ambassador to jointly organise a visit of Argentinian academics and researchers to Greece. He noted that  cooperation in various areas between academics from the two countries is already underway.

The Argentinian Ambassador underlined her country’s focus on research as a tool for development, with space and nuclear technology being high priorities. She also noted the framework of her visits to research centres of the country, so as to specify the terms and areas of cooperation.

Fotakis stressed that there is a similar approach in the strategy of the two countries to exploit research to the benefit of society and to stem the brain drain, which is of concern to both countries. The idea is to create an attractive research environment that will attract distinguished researchers and draw young scientists back to Greece.

Fotakis said the first results of Greece’s focus on research policy are apparent from the 200 million euro increase in the 2015 Science and Technology.