Uruguay will strengthen research and innovation in food and health with IDB support

New program will contribute to the development of scientific and technological knowledge focused on problem solving

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a loan of $6 million to finance a program in Uruguay that will contribute to the development of scientific and technological knowledge aimed at solving problems and innovation in the area of ​​food and human health.

The program plans to increase the capabilities of scientific research, technological development and specialized human resources in the area of ​​food and human health in the country. Also to articulate actions of investigation, formation and transfer of knowledge and technologies in the area of ​​food and human health with institutions of the system of science, technology and innovation, and with the productive sector.

In this sense, the capacities of the Biomedical Research Center (CEINBIO) to carry out scientific research and technological development activities, financing the improvement of its infrastructure, equipment and research capabilities, as well as the training of advanced human resources in the area will be strengthened. of food and human health.

In addition, the capacities for the joint work of the CEINBIO with companies, institutions and civil society organizations potentially using the knowledge, and the services that the program will generate will be developed.

The direct beneficiary of the program will be CEINBIO, which will receive resources to strengthen and expand its capabilities, while the final beneficiaries will be researchers, students and businesses.

The program is expected to generate positive impacts over a 10-year time horizon, in new scientific publications on food and human health; graduate students of food and human health graduate; and investments in Research and Development (R&D) leveraged in the productive sector.

Likewise, positive impacts are foreseen for the provision of scientific-technological services and collaboration agreements with companies or other organizations.

The IDB loan of $6 million has a repayment term of 25 years, a grace period of five and a half years, an interest rate based on LIBOR and has a local counterpart of $1.95 million.