The Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni announced that the national government will begin work from Monday a tender to make way for the granting of space Technopolis. “The property (historically loss-making under the Kirchner administration) will be put into operation as part of a private investment program: it will never again be a burden on Argentinians’ wallets“Explained the former presidential spokesman in a post on his social network account X.
The concession implies that the state remains the owner of the park. However, use is transferred to a private operator for a certain period of time and under predetermined conditions. In this system, the asset is not sold but is managed through a contract that specifies the term, obligations and control mechanisms.
After the concession period expires, the property reverts back to state ownership. This model is used, for example, on toll highways, airports, traffic terminals and licensed public spaces.
Tecnópolis was founded in 2010, during Cristina Kirchner’s second term in office an exhibition to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the May Revolution. After an initial postponement due to infrastructure and scheduling problems, it opened its doors for the first time in July 2011 in Villa Martelli, the district of Vicente López, on land owned by the national state and previously underused.
Since its inauguration It functioned as a freely accessible space with interactive exhibitions, pavilions for science, industry, energy, space, culture and art, as well as music shows and educational activities. In the early years, the government emphasized the importance of the event and its role as a tool for scientific and cultural dissemination.
The management and budget of the property remained the responsibility of the nation-state, first through the Ministry of Science and Technology and then through various organizations depending on the period. Over the years has been the subject of political and budgetary debates: While its supporters defended its symbolic, educational and cultural value, its critics questioned the lack of economic sustainability and the use of the space for partisan purposes.
Over time, the facility has experienced changing priorities and periods of reduced activity, including partial closures or rescheduling during the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, various administrations have examined alternatives to redefine their functioning, involve private investments or change their administrative system, with the aim of reducing government spending and ensuring the continuity of the space.
Under the leadership of Javier Milei, which started in December 2023, Tecnópolis was affected by the general policy of reducing public spending and reviewing the role of the state in cultural activities. In this context, the property came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture, as part of a program of strong budgetary adjustments that included the review of contracts, programs and administrative structures.
During 2024, the national government announced its intention to reformulate the operation of Tecnópolis, with the aim of reducing or eliminating its direct state funding. Alternatives examined publicly included handing over all or part of the property to private operators – which was eventually done -, holding paid events and redesigning the premises as part of a self-sufficient model.
Subsequently, senior officials advised LA NACION that the park, as it had functioned until then, is inadequate and that the state should not support this type of company. In this process, Tecnópolis experienced periods of closure, reduced activities and changes in its program, in line with the general review of cultural policies promoted by the libertarian administration.
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