Transición Energética desde la semiperiferia: desafíos de las Políticas Orientadas por Misión en la industria del litio en Argentina

Abstract

Framed in the so called Energetic Global Transition (ET), Argentina has delineated Science and Technology Mission Oriented Policies (MOP) focused in ion-lithium batteries technology. Lithium, strategic resource of the ET agenda, is key in the geopolitical dispute of central economies that seek to consolidate their technological industries of electromobility and defense. By analyzing Argentina's Science and Technology agenda on lithium from 2007 to 2023, this article inquires into the pertinence, reach and limitations of MOP as instruments for the design and implementation of lithium technological development policies that tackle local needs and imply socioeconomic development for the country. We show how, as a consequence of the lack of situated perspective, crucial inconsistencies emerge in the adoption of MOP for the ET agenda. The contradictory lithium trajectory in Argentina has organizational, institutional and macroeconomic specific limitations that confront a semiperipheral economy in an attempt to develop its own industrial and technological capacities. We conclude that uncritical adoption of agendas and instruments from central countries reproduces inequality and that it is fundamental to promote policies pertinent to local and national development .