Conrado Franco Varotto (born 13 August 1941) is an Argentine physicist of Italian origin, recognized as a leading figure in the development of Argentina's nuclear and space programs.
Early Life and Education: Born in Brugine, Province of Padua, Italy, he emigrated to Argentina at age nine (1951). He earned his Licentiate and Doctorate in Physics from the Instituto Balseiro (doctorate in 1968). He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research as an Associate Researcher in the Department of Materials Science at Stanford University, California (1968–1970), funded by a CONICET fellowship.
Career: Upon returning to Argentina, he was appointed Coordinator of the Applied Research Program at the Bariloche Atomic Center of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) (1971–1976). In 1976, he founded and became the first General and Technical Manager of INVAP, a state-owned technology company based in Bariloche, inspired by the Silicon Valley model he observed at Stanford. He led INVAP until 1991. During this period, he also directed the development of uranium enrichment technology in Argentina, with the industrial plant built by INVAP in Pilcaniyeu.
From January 1994 to May 2018, Varotto served as Executive and Technical Director of the Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE), Argentina's national space agency. Under his leadership, Argentina's National Space Plan was implemented, resulting in the development and orbital placement of multiple satellite missions, including SAC-A, SAC-B, SAC-C, SAC-D/Aquarius (a joint mission with NASA), and the SAOCOM series of radar observation satellites (developed in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency). He retired as executive director in 2018 and continued as an ad honorem advisor to CONAE.
Recognitions and Affiliations: Varotto was designated a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Argentina in 1989. He received the Platinum Konex Award in Physics and Nuclear Technology for the decade 1982–1992 (1993). In 2018, he was named "Researcher of the Nation" by the Argentine government. He has also received the Houssay Career Award, honorary doctorates from the National University of San Martín (2017) and the National Technological University (2019), and distinctions from the Italian government, including Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity (2003).
