Beyond beef: China and Uruguay team up on science to target cancer, pests and robotics
The two countries look for new potential in a relationship built on trade in agricultural products
“China is a good partner for us, especially in basic sciences,” Alvaro Brunini, president of Uruguay’s National Agency of Research and Innovation (ANII), said after a visit to China last month.
He said the trip had a strong scientific focus, engaging a delegation of researchers, academics and representatives from various innovation institutions.
The two countries’ willingness to cooperate was crucial, he said, as it allowed for the development of research projects as well as student and researcher mobility.
The group travelled to China to seek partnerships, funding for joint research and an exchange of expertise in biotechnology, healthcare and advanced technology, particularly drones and robotics for agriculture.
“Our government has a strong policy promoting science, technology and innovation in this new term,” Brunini said.
Since taking office in March last year, the Orsi administration has implemented changes while increasing both political and financial support for science.
“This reflects the view that science, technology and innovation have a key role in enhancing economic development [and] also in cooperating and collaborating with other countries,” he added.
Future collaboration with China was also expected on livestock tick control, a major challenge for Uruguay. Ticks can cause illness in farm animals and threaten food security.
Following the detection of tickicide levels exceeding regulatory limits in beef shipments to China, the Uruguayan Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries announced stricter oversight of tick management protocols.
Brunini said some in the Uruguayan delegation sought to work with China on animal vaccines, adding that there was “a possibility of future collaboration” on the issue.
ANII will continue scientific cooperation with CAS and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, a major funding agency for basic research in the country.
Brunini called it a “great opportunity” to collaborate in both basic and applied sciences while boosting researcher mobility and professional development in joint projects.
Meanwhile, the University of the Republic (Udelar), Uruguay’s main institution for higher education and research, has agreed to expand a joint bio-nano-pharmaceutical laboratory at China’s Qingdao University. The lab now hosts 38 researchers from China and 12 from Uruguay.
Alvaro Mombru, the dean of Udelar’s chemistry faculty and a member of the lab, told the En Perspectiva news portal last month that translating research into clinical applications “is made possible by its association with a global power such as China”.
The lab researches nanotechnology strategies to deliver medications for cancer and other diseases. “One particular research line is the use of radicals and free radicals to attack the tumour cells,” Mombru said.
On water management, the Technological University of Uruguay (Utec) is scheduled to work with the Chinese Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research to address issues such as water treatment.
According to Alvaro Pena, a Utec adviser who joined the delegation, Uruguay is “facing challenges related to flooding, drought, irrigation and water quality, and China too. So this can strengthen our technical management capacity.”
Utec will also set up a joint laboratory with Beijing Forestry University to identify, monitor and control pests using remote-sensing technologies and drone imagery.