Russia and Argentina are two countries of similar level of development, with an income per head of about $15,000 at PPP (purchasing power parity), a high level of literacy, a large area and impressive natural resources. On the other side, both share the fact that they were among the top nations by their level of development in the past and now, after their deep economic crisis, have fallen to the middle of the list with a low level in the innovation index of INSEAD, even if there is a difference because Russia invests every year 1,5% in R&D while Argentina invests just 0,5%, and the number of patents filed by Russia is much larger, being also well developed in software and aircraft. So perhaps in a decade Argentina will fall behind Russia. Argentinians wonder why spending resources developing technology when others do it and they just have to buy the product, but on the long term that means impoverishing the nation being dependent just on agriculture and raw materials, both essential but without much value added. And to keep the competitive advantage in both, technological investment is necessary. In fact, Argentina is the second World producer of genetically modified wheat and soya.