Ambassador Celebrates Winner of American Chamber of Commerce "Mentes Innovadoras" Contest

December 15, 2008

Ambassador Wayne with the winner of the contest, Gonzalo Galvez

On December 15, Ambassador Wayne congratulated Gonzalo Galvez and Clara Zucchino, winners of the 2008 "Mentes Innovadoras" contest organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina.  Ruth Ladenheim, Secretary of Planeamiento y Politicas of the Ministry of Science and Technology also lauded Galvez and Zucchino for their outstanding efforts.  According to the AmCham, the contest recognizes the best essay which described the benefits generated by IPR for Argentine economic development. 

Gonzalo Galvez was the winner in the university student category, and wrote an essay entitled “Los flujos de fondos de regalías futuras como financiamiento de emprendimientos con contenido de propiedad intelectual”, while Clara Zucchino was the winner in the Young Professional category and wrote an essay entitled “La responsabilidad de los ISP por los contenidos generados y transmitidos por sus usuarios”.  Their works were judged the best entries by a panel of judges led by Dr. Guillermo Jaim Etcheverry, former Rector of the University of Buenos Aires.  In addition to the two winners, a special Mention was given to Carolina Moyano Vargas in the Young Professional category, for her work entitled “Análisis comparativo de los sistemas normativos de Argentina, Brasil, Chile y Estados Unidos frente al TRIPS: las patentes de medicamentos”.

Gonzalo Galvez wins an internship at any one of the following institutions: the Instituto Nacional de Propiedad Intelectual (INPI), the American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina, Estudio Clarke, Modet & Co, or Estudio LKEC/ Las Heras, Kelly, Eidelstein & Carreras.  Clara Zucchino will be able to take free graduate coursework from one of the following universities: Universidad del Centro de Estudios Macroeconómicos de Argentina (UCEMA), Universidad de Palermo, the Centro de Propiedad Intelectual at Universidad Austral, the Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Universidad Siglo XXI, or Universidad Blas Pascal.

The Ambassador, in brief remarks, highlighted the importance of intellectual property protection for growth and employment.  He stated, “Increased protection will provide opportunities for Argentine creativity to flourish, and increase the Argentina's competitiveness - and create jobs."  He also stated “The impact of that creativity depends on how well it is protected.  Protection encourages creativity.  And through that creativity, we are all able to enjoy breakthroughs in science, medicine, and the arts."  Indeed, a global study by the Business Software Alliance found that software piracy led to 370 million dollars in company losses in Argentina alone.  Even more than the money lost in sales, the study showed that most of the benefits from reducing piracy accrue to local businesses, not foreign ones.