The concept of Corporate Social Responsiblity (CSR) has evolved in the last years and is still under discussion. This is because it is a recent, dynamic and flexible concept. According to the definition given by the "Programa VALOR" (Value Program) of AMIA-BID-FOMI, we understand social responsibility as those business behaviours based on principles of ethics and transparency, including a continuous improvement of environmental and social care.
In particular, INVAP is considered a socially responsible organization since it offers to the market products and services that, in one way or another, tend to improve people's quality of life. Such products and services have direct social, environmental and medical applications, as is the case with radar sensors for collaborative air traffic control, early detection of forest fires, use of satellite technology to control national fish resources and nuclear reactor to produce radioisotopes for medical use, all designed and constructed by INVAP in different locations around the world, among other developments.
Besides adhering to the UN Global Compact, the company is also ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Assurance) and 14001:2004 (Environmental Management) certified.
Some social applications of INVAP developments are described next, divided by areas of action.
In the field of nuclear technology, for more than three decades INVAP has been designing, producing and even exporting reactors for production of radioisotopes and research, that have been used in nuclear medicine and agriculture, among other applications. Besides, INVAP has a Medical Systems Area, dedicated to the production of telecobalto-therapy equipment and simulators for cancer treatment.
Furthermore, in the aerospace area, the company has designed and manufactured radars to control Argentine air traffic for the Argentine Civil Air Navigation Administration. Nine of these radars are already installed and in synchronized operation and all commercial air routes are expected to be covered, with 22 installed radars, buy the end of 2011. This way, INVAP contributes with the process of improvement of national air navigation control and overall quality.
In the area of satellite applications, the company works in two fields: Science Application Satellites (SAC) for the Argentine Space Activities Comission (CONAE) and the first Argentine geostationary communication satellites built for the National Company of Satellite Solutions (ARSAT). Among the four CONAE satellites designed and constructed by INVAP, SAC-D stands out, since it carries a sophisticated instrument provided by US Space Agency NASA to measure ocean salinity at a global scale, its relationship with sea currents and the water cycle, subjects that are all related to climate change and environmental care. Besides, these satellites carry infrared, high sensitivity cameras - also manufactured by INVAP - designed for early detection of forest fires and for other agricultural and fiscal control applications.
Geostationary communication satellites, on the other hand, are considered to be of market and political interest for Argentina, since - once in orbit - it will be possible to make the best use of the orbital positions assigned to our country by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This will result in better and cheaper Internet, telephon and data transmission services for the argentine citizens, and will turn our country into a "seller" instead of a "buyer" of this kind of services to all America.
Finally, the Renewable Energy and Industrial Projects Area of INVAP produces and installs wind generators, thus encouraging the use of renewable energies. A low power wind generator development is already finished, and a medium power (30 KW) wind generator is currently in manufacturing stage.
Simultaneously, an IDB loan to continue with the development of a 1,5 MW wind generator is currently under consideration. Besides, INVAP is taking part in the "GenRen" (Renewable Energies) national and international tender of Energia Argentina S.A: (ENARSA) to provide electric energy from renewable sources (Nº EE 01/2009), in association with UNITEC ENERGY S.A., a company of the Spanish San Jose Group. The proposal presented by this joint venture contemplates the installation of two wind parks of 50 MW each at Cerro Policia, Province of Rio Negro, using 2 MW wind generators imported from abroad.
Moreover, INVAP has developed specific products, some of historiagraphical interest, such as the capsules specially designed for the High Country Archeological Museum of Salta to exhibit Incan mummies ("Niños del Llullaillaco”), or lyophilization plants for freeze-drying food and facilities for industrial waste treatment.
In line with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, articles 26 and 27 that state the right to education, to develop a full personality and to freely participate in scientific and cultural events, INVAP has a complete program of guided tours of its new installations. This program is directed to senior high school students, both from Bariloche and from other parts of the country and is intended to make high technology activities developed by INVAP known to the general public.