INTI (National Institute of Industrial Technology) of Argentina conducts research in areas ranging from food to atmospheric air, meat, biotechnology, energy, and industrial design. It provides services such as technology transfer to various industries, strengthening measurement techniques, and promoting innovation in different production sectors. We interviewed Ms. Liliana Beatriz MOLINA TIRADO, Deputy Director of Energy & Mobility in INTI’s Innovation & Technology Development Management Division, about the institute’s role and impressions of RD20.

INTI is a national research institute with 3,000 staff members, of whom 95% are technical staff. Founded in 1957, it is a national research institute under Argentina’s Ministry of Economy. Its purpose is to support the development of many industries by developing and transferring technology to the industrial sector. Furthermore, it strengthens measurement technology and promotes innovation.

Argentina consists of 23 provinces, and each province has at least one research center. INTI is a hab of the research centers. Technical centers across the country develop technologies needed by local industries. For example, some centers specialize in researching and developing Industry 4.0. In addition to technology, INTI is also connected with another institutions at national and local level as part of the science and technology system.

Ms. Liliana Molina oversees the Energy and Mobility area. This division works to strengthen corporate competitiveness and sustainability. While mainly supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises through innovative product development, it also supports effective processes for reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. The main technologies that the Energy & Mobility Division is working on are as follows:
1. Bioenergy, domestic solar collectors, solar panels, low-power wind turbines
2. Energy storage and conversion technologies
3. Smart grid integration
4. Mobility
5. Energy efficiency improvement

At the end of 2020, Argentina set national NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) targets to promote a sustainable society, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions from 483 megatons (Mt) to 349 Mt by 2030. Of course, there is also a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve this, the country will act according to the national implementation plan to address climate change across sectors including energy, agriculture, forestry, livestock, transportation, industry, and public infrastructure.

The main sources of GHG emissions in Argentina are power and heat generation from fossil fuels, and transportation. Therefore, the country is proceeding with increasing renewable energy as part of energy diversification, while also improving energy efficiency. Currently, renewable energy accounts for 18% of electricity, and there is an aggressive plan to increase this to 25% by 2025. Furthermore, Argentina is advancing the energy transition and conducting research on industrial production of green and blue hydrogen, lithium-ion batteries, and electric vehicles. INTI supports the industrial sector’s decarbonization process and provides technical solutions to other industries.

Active International Cooperation

INTI is also promoting international cooperation, one of RD20’s stated objectives. For international cooperation, INTI has set three strategies: technology transfer to industry, scientific and technological cooperation, and internationalization of small- and medium-sized enterprises. INTI transfers production technology knowledge and innovative technologies to developing countries, increases scientific and technological knowledge, and participates in joint innovation processes. Furthermore, it supports technological innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises to increase exports.

Regarding specific partnerships, with Japan, INTI has been discussing clean energy technology development programs introduced to several small- and medium-sized enterprises with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), and joint research on promising materials for energy conversion by sending two doctoral researchers from INTI to the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Ms. Liliana Molina has visited Japan twice before. She came once to Okinawa for biomass research, and the second time to the Kanto region for hydrogen research. INTI has many joint research projects with Japan, including research themed on “kaizen” (improvement).

Besides Japan, it is conducting joint research with the Israel Institute of Technology on “anion exchange membranes for exchange hydrogen conversion technology,” and with Mexico’s CINVESTAV (Center for Research and Advanced Studies) on “development of integrated solar and electrolysis systems for green hydrogen generation.”

With Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, INTI is advancing the PIFCSS (The Ibero-American Program for the Strengthening of South-South Cooperation) program as a government initiative aimed at South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, and promoting the SDGs (17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN). It has also been participating in Europe’s Horizon Europe program since 2021, which will run until 2027.

RD20 is an Important Opportunity for International Cooperation

Argentina constantly follows and promotes research activities with Japan, the US, and Europe, and looks forward to collaborating with South American and African countries. In other words, it appears to be trying to raise standards in developing countries to match those of developed nations. INTI’s role seems to be not only strengthening their own country’s technology through international cooperation but also contributing to raising standards across South America and Africa as a whole.

Ms. Liliana Molina highly values the RD20 meetings that have been held in Japan. “AIST has provided us with an opportunity to discuss future initiatives together, based on the knowledge INTI has accumulated in addressing climate change issues,” Ms. Liliana Molina responds. Additionally, she highly values RD20, stating that “RD20 provides an opportunity to learn about research activities being conducted in various countries, enabling INTI to promote research for solving global problems.”

Kenji Tsuda Editor in Chief, Semiconductor Portal