The Knowledge Economy It is no longer a promise or a set of fashion words. From the point of view of numbers and statistics, it is a Tangible reality which transforms the productive matrix of Argentina, pushes its exports and generates quality employment.
In simple terms, it is the set of economic activities that use human talent and innovation as the main input to create value. From the development of software, biotechnology and artificial intelligence to audiovisual production, nanotechnology, professional services, satellite industry or applied engineering, the range of sectors that make up this economy is broad, diverse and constantly expanding.
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The distinctive thing about these activities is that they do not depend on natural resources, nor are they subject to the seasonality of the climate or to the physical transport of merchandise. The knowledge economy is based on applied knowledge and creativity, and that makes it A strategic currency source For countries like Argentina.
According to Argencon data (entity that brings together companies providing services of all verticals of the knowledge economy), today it represents the fourth export complex of the country, surpassed only by agriculture, the automotive sector and the oil-picker-picker. With more than 424,000 people employed and exports for 81 billion dollars in 2023, it is consolidated as One of the most dynamic and resilient sectors of the Argentine economy.
The profile that defines Argentina in this sector is based on several key advantages: a public and private academic offer of high quality, a time spindle compatible with the United States and Europe, excellent mastery of English, modern and accessible digital infrastructure, a consolidated entrepreneurial culture and a low risk of natural catastrophes. But above all, talent: Argentine human resources are internationally recognized for their ability to solve problems, adapt to changing environments and generate value with creativity.
The technological unicorns
With these attributes, it is no accident that Argentina is the country with the greatest number of technological unicorns (companies that are worth more than 1000 million dollars) per inhabitant in Latin America. Globant, Mercado Libre, Auth0, Tenndanube, Uualá, Despega, Vercel, Aleph, Mural and Satellogic are just some of the most emblematic cases. Companies born in Buenos Aires, Córdoba or Rosario that today lead global markets and compete equally with technological giants. Moreover, Argentina is a regional leader in the creation of technology base startups and shares with Brazil 30% of this type of initiatives in the region.
The history of this phenomenon has a clear turning point: the software promotion law, sanctioned in 2004. Until that time, the Argentine technological sector was small and fragmented. With this public policy, pioneer in its kind, a clear signal was sent to the market: the State was willing to support the industry with tax benefits and predictability. The impact was immediate. Of 20,000 jobs and less than 100 million dollars in exports, it went to 155,000 direct jobs and 8000 million in annual exports, according to figures from the Software Industry Chamber (Cessi).
With more than 424,000 people employed and exports for 81 billion dollars in 2023, the knowledge economy is consolidated as one of the most dynamic and resilient sectors. (Photo: Adobe stock)
In 2019, that law was extended and became the current Knowledge Economics Lawwhich includes not only software, but also biotechnology, audiovisual production, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, engineering and consulting services, among other items. For Carlos Pallotti, one of his drivers, “the change was of paradigm. Argentina went from exporting raw materials to export ideas, code, applied science. That modifies the structure of the economy and the role of the country in the world.” Luis Galeazzi, executive director of Argencon, recently said that “it is one of the few sectors that generate commercial surplus and formal private employment.”
It is Productive profile change is also perceived in the regions. In Tandil, a city that 15 years ago had a handful of software companies, today more than sixty signatures work and 2000 people are used in the sector. In Mendoza, the video game industry grew in a sustained way and exported 110 million dollars last year. In Rosario, the SF500 fund promotes with 300 million dollars to scientific startups, and the local technological pole articulates more than 100 companies. In Misiones, the Silicon Misiones project is committed to replicating models such as Silicon Valley from a federal view.
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One of the closest cases at the time of the current impulse is Miradec, the Paraná Technology Park. Located in Entre Ríos, this new campus seeks to become a pole of attraction of companies, talent and investments. It will have 8000 m² of infrastructure, 44 offices, coworking spaces, auditoriums, training rooms and areas for scientific projects. “We want it to be a platform to project Entre Ríos as a relevant actor of the knowledge economy,” explains Carlos Pallotti, its general director. “We are creating value on the basis of three pillars: infrastructure of excellence, links with the investment world and a strategic team with global vision,” he says.
Technology applied to health (Medtech) is another emerging engines. Medical innovation is not just saving lives, it also means employment, investment in R&D, exports and health efficiency, explains McKinsey consultancy in a paper on the subject. There it is pointed out: “cardiovascular health, digital care and medical robotics will be the segments of greatest expansion in the next five years.”
In the midst of a global technological transformation, the country is committed to a new productive force based on innovation. (Credits: AP)
In parallel, The Argentine audiovisual industry It has become a creative exponent that transcends borders. Movies like Argentina, 1985winner of international awards, or series such as The Eternaluta, Okupas or the kingdom, That they reached platforms such as Amazon, Netflix or Max, reveal the country’s potential in narratives, animation, sound and digital effects. This sector not only generates currencies: it also uses technicians, designers, screenwriters, programmers, editors and postproductors, combining culture and technology.
Think beyond borders
In terms of definition, the knowledge economy encompasses activities such as software, computer and digital services; Audiovisual production and postproduction; Biotechnology, Neurotecnology and Genetic Engineering; geological and prospecting services; aerospace and satellite industry; professional export services; nanotechnology and nanoscience; Artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of things (IoT); Engineering activities, exact and natural sciences, agricultural sciences and medical sciences linked to research and experimental development tasks.
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The international context also opens opportunities. According to the World Trade Organization, Argentine participation in global exports of knowledge -based services fell from 0.37% in 2010 to 0.25% in 2023. However, this can be reversed. With adequate policies, it is projected that in ten years the 30,000 million dollars are reached annually in exports. The United States, Europe and Latin America appear as the main expansion markets. Colombia, Mexico and Costa Rica are the strongest competitors in the region, due to work costs and more stable macroeconomic conditions.
Precisely, macroeconomics is a key factor. The recent partial output of the stocks and the normalization of the exchange regime generate better perspectives for the sector. Being able to pay salaries in dollars stops talent rotation and improves the competitiveness of companies. Argencon’s 2025 perspective survey indicates that 62% of companies expect to increase their exports this year, and 40% expect to increase their staffing. Most consider that the predictability and normative stability are the most relevant factors to invest.
