Kapan Indonesia bisa seperti Argentina, atau kapan ITB bisa seperti UNICEN
?
Dari sebuah negara dengan "the largest by any country in history", Argentina
melihat
bahwa IT bisa menjadi salah satu competitive advantage mereka, dan UNICEN
(National Central University) tergerak untuk menjadi hub dari technology
park.
Cheers,
feRDy mAd
----------------------------------------
Argentina's 'Silicon Valley' thrives
Tue Apr 19, 4:00 AM ET World - The Christian Science Monitor
Software firms joined with government and universities to fuel technology
growth
of 45 percent last year.
By Vinod Sreeharsha, Contributor to The Christian Science Monitor
BUENOS AIRES - Three-and-a-half years ago, Ernesto Krawchik was working out
of his house, debugging code on a single computer that he shared with his
business partner, while his 1-year-old son tugged at his pant legs.
Coming on the heels of the country's economic collapse, it was a far cry from
his days as president of Oracle-Argentina during the tech explosion of the
1990s. "At the time our company was formed, no one took us seriously," Mr.
Krawchik says.
Today that company, Idea Factory Software (IFS), employs 90 tech professionals
and
will add another 100 over the next year. At IFS's office in the San Telmo
neighborhood, known for its tango shows, dozens of 20-somethings punch away
at their keyboards, solving the software needs of major international
corporations.
Welcome to what could be called "El Barrio Silicon" - Argentina's version of
Silicon Valley. Since Argentina's $142 billion debt default in 2001, the
largest by any country in history, dozens of software start-ups have sprouted,
and existing tech firms have seen unprecedented growth. Ironically, it was
the disaster that spawned the boom. From the ashes of the crisis, businesses,
universities, and the government began working together for the first time
to cultivate the information-technology industry. Though relatively small
in size, it is one of the unsung heroes of the country's economic recovery.
"The idea for this newfound collaboration is modeled on the technology hubs
in the US such as Research Triangle Park and the Route 128 corridor in Boston,"
which revolve around Duke University and MIT, says Alejandro Prince, president
of Prince and Cooke, a research firm based here.
Going strictly by numbers, the IT industry barely registers in Argentina,
accounting
for less than 1 percent of an economy fueled by soy and beef exports. But
its growth rate is one of the highest. According to the Argentine Software
Chamber of Commerce, industry revenue grew 45 percent in 2004, compared
with 2002. Tech exports climbed 83 percent.
Outsourcing is key
One reason for the growth has been the recent outsourcing phenomenon that has
spotlighted India in particular. EDS Inc., the computer-services firm founded
by Texas billionaire Ross Perot, forecasts having 1,750 employees here this
year, up from 1,250 last year, and more than double the 700 employees of
2000.
Argentina has long had the potential to develop an IT industry. According to
the United Nations Human Development Report 2004, Argentina ranks first
among Latin American countries in number of Internet users per capita. It
is also No. 1 among Latin American countries for research scientists and
engineers, with 684 per 1 million people, according to the same report.
Still, Krawchik says, until now, "Argentina has never seriously worked to
convert its intellectual talent into a competitive advantage."
Technology leaders here explain that the 2001 crisis forced the National
Central
University, or UNICEN, a leading Argentine school, to wean itself from
government
funding, partnering instead with private businesses. IFS was its first partner,
employing 10 students.
Today, UNICEN, 200 miles south of Buenos Aires, is the hub of a technology
park,
which consists of 30 companies.
The government is also playing an increased role. This month, the Ministry of
Economy, together with Intel and Microsoft, unveiled "Mi PC," which enables
Argentines to buy computers for less than $500, a 30 percent reduction from
market price. Paul Otellini, who will replace Craig Barrett as Intel CEO
next month, spoke to industry leaders here last week, estimating that 400,000
computers will be sold this year through "Mi PC."
Last year, 255 government officials, business leaders, and academics spent nine
months producing a strategic 10-year plan for the IT industry. It contains
30 measures, including doubling the number of private-sector IT jobs and
exports in the next three years. One measure, the Promotion of Software
Industry Law, already implemented, reduces taxes by 60 percent for IT
companies.
Still, not everyone is bullish on Argentina. In AT&Kearney's 2004 Offshore
Location
Attractiveness Index, Argentina ranked 15th, finishing behind the Philippines
and Malaysia; among Latin American countries, Brazil was ranked seventh
and Chile finished ninth. In the World Economic Forum's 2004-2005 Global
Competitiveness Report, Argentina ranked No. 74.
'Talent for the world'
Even skeptics, however, admit that Argentina is on the right track. While
working
in California's Silicon Valley from 1998 to 1999, Guillermo Marsicovetere,
president of Sun Microsystem's Latin America Southern Cone division, never
once recommended investing in Argentina. But today, back in his native Buenos
Aires, he describes the current government as "stable and predictable."
Given Argentina's history, that's a huge compliment.
As more multinationals diversify their offshore operations, weaning themselves
from
a dependency on India, Argentine start-ups stand to gain, experts say. EDS,
despite its own large operation in Argentina, last month selected IFS as
one of its primary software providers.
And increasingly, people like Krawchik are leaving corporate giants to join
Argentina's up-and-comers. Mauro Capponi, a software engineer, left
international
technology consultant Accenture to join IFS. "Your work is more visible
here, and you are more valued," he says.
The slogan on Krawchik's business card could best sum up their hope: "Argentine
talent
for the world."
--
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