Aug. 18 (UPI) — Argentina’s scientific expedition “Talud Continental IV,” which live-streamed the Mar del Plata submarine canyon utilizing the remotely operated automobile SuBastian, grew to become a cultural phenomenon.
The lately accomplished mission averaged 500,000 viewers per broadcast and drew greater than 17.5 million views in three weeks.
The mission, led by scientists from Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Conicet) in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, showcased the potential of Argentine science on the worldwide stage.
However, that success contrasts sharply with the tough state of affairs dealing with scientific analysis in Argentina.
The nation’s science and technology budget has dropped to 0.156% of gross home product, its lowest level since 2002, in accordance to a July report from the EPC, a gaggle of researchers, analysts and consultants specializing in science, technology and innovation coverage.
The sector’s share of GDP fell 48% in contrast to 2023. Spending within the first half of 2025 was down 19% from the identical interval in 2024, marking a decline of greater than 40% in two years.
This is the lowest level recorded since 2002, when the nation was within the midst of one in every of its worst financial crises.
Although the determine stood at 0.30% of GDP when President Javier Milei took workplace, extreme cuts to science and technology have been remodeled the previous two years as a part of broader austerity measures to fund social packages.
The Ministry of Science was downgraded to a secretariat, whereas main analysis companies confronted steep reductions. Conicet misplaced 41% of its funding in contrast with 2024, the I+D+I Agency noticed its budget minimize by 67%, the National Institute of Industrial Technology fell 46%, the National Institute of Agricultural Technology misplaced 39.6%, the National Commission on Space Activities dropped 40%, and the National Genetic Data Bank noticed its sources diminished by 50.4%.
The adjustment marks an unprecedented minimize in authorities funding in science. In 2024, the state financed 59.5% of the nation’s analysis and improvement, whereas non-public corporations contributed simply 20.7% and universities 1.2%.
In analysis and improvement particularly, 61% of funding got here from public companies and universities.
The authorities, nonetheless, has prioritized different areas it considers key to improvement, together with agribusiness, power and mining, the information economic system and innovation, and well being, whereas sidelining packages tied to local weather change, the setting and social sciences.
The results are already seen: inadequate sources for analysis, lack of apparatus and provides, suspended contracts, wage cuts and a rising mind drain of Argentine scientists overseas.
The impact on scientific employment is obvious. An estimated 4,148 jobs have been misplaced in Argentina’s National Science, Technology and Innovation System, a 3rd of them at Conicet, which now has solely 11,868 researchers.
For Guillermo Durán, dean of the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences on the University of Buenos Aires, the issue goes past economics.
“There is a political decision to dismantle Argentina’s science and technology system and the high-quality public university system that has always set us apart as a country,” he stated. His school misplaced 13% of its educating employees in 2024 due to budget cuts and wage reductions.
“These people decided to end a series of very good programs for Argentina. The damage they are causing could take many years to recover from,” Durán warned.
Agustín Campero, president of the Alem Foundation and former secretary of Scientific and Technological Articulation below President Mauricio Macri, agreed on the seriousness of the state of affairs.
“It is dire and will have severe consequences for Argentina’s development,” he stated.
The Science System Financing Law, accredited by Congress in 2021, set a schedule for the gradual development of state funding in science and technology to attain 1% of GDP by 2032. That is what the scientific neighborhood and universities at the moment are demanding.