When we talk about technology companies in Argentina, it is inevitable to think of unicorns such as Mercado Libre, Despegar or Globant. However, there is a large platoon made up of smaller firms linked to the so-called "Knowledge Economy" that renew their hopes before the arrival of a new government.These are small and medium-sized companies, located in the Argentine Chamber of Electromechanical and Lighting Electronics (CADIEEL), which had started their conversion to "industry 4.0" during Macri management to provide technological solutions to different areas: logistics, energy renewable, Internet of Things (IoT), among many others.From the entity they reveal to iProUP that they have already contacted the "albertismo" and they trust that the conditions for the take-off of the sector will be generated that, according to they affirm, has a greater integration of national value than that of other industries , such as the automaker.Unlike other items, the relationship of companies 4.0 is more oiled with the next president-elect, they recognize from CADIEEL, where they shuffle some names that they will officiate as interlocutors: "There are several of those that are being mentioned in the media and others not so acquaintances. "As the entity has been working for more than four years on projects with the University of San Martín (UNSAM), cradle of the Albertian think tank and bastion of several of the K intellectuals during the macrismo, there is direct dialogue with those in dance to occupy the most important chairs of the future Cabinet.Without going any further, Matías Kulfas, who resonates with greater force to succeed Hernán Lacunza in the Treasury, is a professor of Economic Development at UNSAM, where he also works as a researcher.Production, another key ministry for the sector, could also be occupied by a Kirchner official in the municipality: Gabriel Katopodis, mayor of the General San Martín party since 2011.That's not all: Mercedes Marcó del Pont, potential head of the AFIP and former president of the Central Bank, serves as Coordinator of the Program of Productive Innovation and Development of the Technological Campus of the university located in the northwest of Conurbano.The diagnosisIn a dialogue with iProUP, Guillermo Freund, of the Electronic Committee of CADIEEL, says that the Macri government designed a "fatal cocktail" for the industry. But there was one of its ingredients that hit harder."The borders were opened and they did not give us any possibility of reconversion. Although we were allowed to buy anything abroad, I find it difficult to explain the disaster that was made in the industry," complains the manager.Indeed, the free import of computers resulted in local manufacturers - largely CADIEEL partners - reducing their facilities and personnel. However, notes that the teams "are not much cheaper."The second component is related to the increase in credit, with a reference rate that is now around 65% and exceeded 85%. "The SMEs that asked for financing know that they are going to merge. Those that wanted to keep themselves accountable did not take out credits, but instead reduced structures," says Freund.The third point has to do with the collapse of consumption, which not only reduced the local market due to low demand from private companies, but also undermined state purchases.The manager says that the Government did not put the same interest in the technology industry as it did in others, such as the car industry, also hit by the crisis."It is good to export cars, but the local value added in dollars is very small, 10% or 20%, especially when all the auto parts went to Brazil. On the other hand, the percentage of national integration of our industry is 70%," reveals.Regarding the Knowledge Economy Law, Freund celebrates that it has been promulgated, but at the same time regrets that the design of the standard is not useful to the sector he represents."It is very well oriented for those who open a startup. Much better for Mercado Libre or Takeoff. But they have been left out to intermediate companies, SMEs that are undergoing conversion and that today fail to meet 70% of knowledge intended ", complete.According to Freund, this is because many of the firms in the sector "come from the iron." That is, they commercialized hardware, and now "they want to add layers of knowledge.""Maybe they will reach that percentage in five years. When we claim that the law did not accompany us, they would tell us: 'Do another'. But it is hard for us to keep what we have," he says.The futureFreund is optimistic about the future of the activity. He feels that it is not necessary to ask for a plan, since a large part of those who will form the new government as of December 10 have knowledge about the problems."The members of Alberto Fernández's team have already studied our sector very well. The value chains that must be recreated should have some kind of state interference," says the manager, who rules out an approach similar to what Tierra del Tierra had so far. Fire and celebrate the new push that will give the Front of All to the island.Freund synthesizes the points that concern the entity and where they are working together with the albertismo:1. - Review of the Law of Knowledge Economy: specifically, what is the percentage (of knowledge) that each value chain needs to give work2. - Financing: "Loans for working and investment capital tied at the lowest possible interest rate in real terms will be granted again"3. - Training: "There will be greater integration with universities to generate new learning plans and for the creation of local value that can be exportable"4. - Tariffs: "We aim to establish a system that allows discriminating components of products made for the implementation of existing productive structures"5. - Local labor: "Argentine professionals must solve the problems. And entrepreneurs must turn to them instead of buying imported solutions"6. - Promotion of "Buy National" and "Buy Provincial": "Many companies in the interior create technology. There are universities that spill very good engineering"Regarding this last point, Freund states: "We want concession companies to comply with a percentage of the national purchase. If renewable energies are subsidized, for example, that a percentage of local integration be forced to comply."According to the employer, these measures can reverse the bad moment of the sector, which in recent years was evidenced in the loss of 20% of CADIEEL partners. "Some left to reduce costs. Others, because they had nothing to discuss in a chamber in the face of the crisis. And many ended up melting," the director shoots.However, with a more benevolent scenario for industry 4.0, Freund says that Argentina has the conditions to occupy a privileged place at the regional level in the creation of solutions for different branches of activity, from energy and electronics to those linked to the Logistics and software, among many others.The sector hopes that the next government will allow it to recreate the structures that it was losing and, with it, the sources of employment of high technical-professional training.If so, this branch of activity - composed of more than 2,200 companies and which is key to the development of the country - can employ almost 100,000 people, of the current 60,000.That is, half of the 200,000 estimated by the Government to be generated thanks to the Law on the Economy of Knowledge.