by Rod Hughes

This country stands to lose 11 million euros (the dollar currently ranks at $1.56 per euro) for the construction and equipping of a biotechnology laboratory here, due to delays in making a work schedule for the lab. The European Union has been waiting since 2006 for work to begin.

On March 20 this year, then-minister of science and technology Fernando Gutierrez ceremoniously inaugurated the National Biotechnology Innovation Center (Cenibiot) despite the fact that the lab does not exist yet. The ministry has only until next December to complete it before losing the funds.

University of Costa Rica Rector Yamileth Gonzalez says that the delay is due to the Arias Administration’s having sent the project to the Comptroller General’s Office for study. Reolf Smit, a EU advisor, confirmed that the EU had let the Foreign Ministry and close advisors to President Oscar Arias know of its displeasure at the delays.

Two bids have been let for construction and will remain open until the end of April. The shell structure alone is projected to cost a million euros but most of the money will be spent on equipment. Smit say that by December, the lab must let EU know what experiments it has embarked upon.