The United States and Uruguay Sign a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement

During a ceremony at the Department of State, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Gonzalo Fernandez signed a bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement.

The new agreement provides a mechanism through which the United States and Uruguay can broaden cooperation in all scientific and technology fields, and move forward in areas of collaboration such as energy, health issues, science and technology education, engineering, sustainable development, agriculture, and natural resources. It will support government-to-government exchanges and scientific partnerships between private, academic, and non-governmental entities. The Agreement establishes a framework to facilitate exchange of scientific results and provides protection for intellectual property rights. This is the fifth such bilateral cooperation agreement signed between the United States and a Latin American partner, after Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico.