Freddy Barnabas and Raul Nunes from P&G gathered together with the Chancellor, Daniel Pizzi and the Head of the Secretariat for Research, International Relations and Postgraduate Studies, Jimena Estrella, in order to consolidate the joint work which comes from a research and innovation agreement signed by both institutions. In the meeting, they decided to deepen the research and potentiate its application on P&G products.

The chancellor Pizzi point out the value the company’s attitude to bet to liaison with the scientific community of the UNCuyo. “It is important to highlight that this is the first agreement of research and innovation with a University of Latin America”

Héctor Smud, responsible for the Secretariat of Economy and Services; Alberto Marengo, CEO of the FUNC and his Services Manager, Javier Copparoni were also present in the meeting.

Then, the representatives of the multinational Company went to the Faculty of Medical Sciences where, apart from presenting the profile and the functioning of P&G, talked to researchers so as to know more about their projects and evaluate new job opportunities.

About the project

María Fernanda Silva, professor from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the UNCuyo, researcher of CONICET and Head of the Agricultural Biology Institute of Mendoza (IBAM), which depends on both institutions, is one of the main characters of this agreement which allows improving the manufacturing of diverse products of international trade.

The scientist leads the Group of Green Analytical Chemistry which is looking for the creation of chemical developments which have no negative impact on the environment, to be sustainable, secure, cheap, friendly and non-toxic. On the project Silva said: “We’ve been working for five years with green solvents or natural eutectic solvents that are stirring up science and industrial applications.”

Besides, he explained that the bond of the Company with the University arises from the interest shown by P&G on a paper about Analytical Chemistry published by her group of researchers. From then on, they elaborated a plan of work which benefits, among others, the training of post PhD scholars in Cincinnati with first level instruments and technical skills.

PhD. Silva highlighted the progress in this Project is possible thanks to the support provided by the Secretariat for Research, International Relations and Postgraduate Studies which made an impeccable management so as to concrete the signing of the agreement, an unprecedented incident in South America.

On the other hand, Raul Nunes, engineer of P&G, expressed his admiration for PhD Silva’s work which allows applying techniques to products of commercial interest, cleaning, dippers, babies and women care, among others.

In that context, he stated that technology of Green solvents or natural eutectic solvents is a new technology which dissolves certain toxic materials and allows benefits and performance highly superior to those of a common chemistry. They will be applied to the products for consumers.

This agreement is the result of the policy of internationalization developed during the last years in the National University of Cuyo.