Chief of Cabinet Diego Santilli appointed Adriana Baravalle as the nation’s new Secretary of Innovation, Science, and Technology, replacing Darío Genua following an administrative restructuring. According to official records published in the Boletín Oficial, the appointment places an artificial intelligence specialist and academic researcher at the head of Argentina’s technology portfolio.
Baravalle enters the government of President Javier Milei with a professional background spanning data science, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Her appointment follows structural changes implemented by the executive branch that altered the oversight of key telecommunications entities and reduced the internal scope of the secretariat previously led by Genua.
The administrative shift materialized after the publication of Decree 581/26, which reorganized control over strategic communication and public information agencies. Under the updated framework, the National Communications Entity (ENaCom) and the Public Access to Information Agency (AAIP) transitioned directly under the purview of the Chief of Cabinet’s office, while state enterprises Arsat and Correo Argentino were transferred to the sphere of Interior Vice Chief of Cabinet Gustavo Coria, as reported by government documents.
Academic Background and Research Expertise
Baravalle holds a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence from the American Andragogy University in the United States and a master’s degree in Data Science and Knowledge Management from the Universidad Austral, where she is also pursuing a doctorate in engineering, according to institutional profiles. Her academic and professional work focuses heavily on data governance, cryptographic security, and advanced analytics.
She also founded and serves as academic director of synapsIA, a regional network connecting artificial intelligence specialists across Latin America for research cooperation and educational initiatives.
Her professional trajectory includes private sector consulting on data interoperability and information security, alongside public sector advisory roles.
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— Secretaría de Innovación, Ciencia y Tecnología (@innovacionar) August 13, 2026
Scope of the Secretariat and Key Scientific Organisms
Baravalle assumes leadership of a restructured secretariat that retains authority over critical agencies within Argentina’s national scientific ecosystem. These organizations include the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), the National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE), and the National Bank of Genetic Data, alongside various technological development initiatives.
The departure of her predecessor, Darío Genua, concluded weeks of administrative uncertainty that followed the July executive reorganization. While regulatory control over media and postal infrastructure moved away from the secretariat, the office maintains its core mandate over scientific research, technological advancement, and national innovation policy.
Next Steps and Official Updates
With her designation formalized in the Boletín Oficial, Baravalle is set to begin coordinating policy rollouts alongside cabinet officials and research directors. Official decrees, regulatory filings, and subsequent administrative appointments are published regularly through the Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina.
