Biotechnology: proposal for linking and transferring scientific and technolo- gical knowledge from private and public sectors to a socio-productive system and the society in Northwestern Argentina

Abstract

In this paper, I propose to design and implement a cluster oriented at knowledge management in the area of biotechnology, which will facilitate linking and transferring scientific and technological knowledge from the public and private sectors to the socio-productive system and the society in Northwestern Argentina. A “knowledge cluster” is a place where transfer and creation of inter-organizational knowledge are enhanced. Biotechnology is defined as the use of living organisms or parts of them for the production of goods and services. Modern biotechnology incorporates advances in knowledge in the molecular biology of microorganisms, plants and animals, and the development of genetic engineering techniques. The increasing development of biotechnology in Argentina is seen both as a result of a process of structural change in science, and as a factor of change in the productive structure of the country and the quality of life of its inhabitants. The mission of this cluster is to make the knowledge management system more effective through the improvement of relations among the agents of the national system of innovation at a regional level. Taking into account previous work, this research aims at enhancing the transferring of scientific and technological knowledge in biotechnology through an interinstitutional network in Northwestern Argentina. The specific objectives are to design and implement a cluster for knowledge management and to analyze the possibilities to generate economic projects in biotechnology in which public or private institutions intervene to create knowledge and biotechnological companies in the region.