Cuba bets on science for territorial development – Cuba Si
Cuba bets on science for territorial development Cuba Si
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Villa Clara Province’s Strategic Development Lines for 2025
The central province of Villa Clara, located 278 kilometers east of Havana, has revealed its plans to promote eight strategic development lines by 2025. These lines will be driven by industries that are unique in Cuba. The announcement was made during the activities for Science Day in the country, emphasizing the province’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Villa Clara Scientific-Technological Park
One of the key contributors to the province’s development is the Villa Clara Scientific-Technological Park. It is the third park of its kind in the country and the first with an industrial focus. The park’s contribution to sectors such as food production, energy, tourism, industry, science, technology, innovation, natural resources, and the environment, infrastructure, and sustainable social development is highly regarded. These sectors have been prioritized due to their potential transformative impact on society.
The president of the Scientific-Technological Park, Edelys Saavedra, highlights the importance of collaboration between academic research, the business system, and the government. This collaboration will play a crucial role in the province’s economic development. Additionally, the focus on sustainable innovations and effective communication strategies to reach a wider client base will be continued.
Unique Industries in Villa Clara
Villa Clara is home to unique industries that are unparalleled in the country. Examples include “Planta Mecánica,” “Ciclos Minerva,” and the Empresa Electroquímica de Sagua la Grande. These industries will be further developed in the coming year to contribute to territorial development and municipal autonomy.
Science and Technology Development in Villa Clara
María del Carmen Velasco, the delegate of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment in Villa Clara, emphasizes the importance of improving the functioning of technical advisory committees and transforming the science plan into the business sector. These measures are essential to address technological obsolescence. Villa Clara currently has 39 proposals for science development in the production of goods and services, as well as 27 groups and 15 entities dedicated to science, technology, and information. These figures position Villa Clara as one of the leading provinces in the country in terms of diversity and contributions to the science-based government system.
Academic Training in Villa Clara
The Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas (UCLV), the most multidisciplinary university in Cuba, offers a wide range of academic programs. It has 22 doctoral programs, 42 master’s programs, and seven specialties. In the field of medical sciences, UCLV provides two doctoral programs, seven master’s programs, and 67 specialties.
Science Day in Cuba
Cuba will celebrate Science Day on January 15. In 2024, the country successfully carried out 5,960 research projects, resulting in more than twenty high-impact outcomes in various fields of knowledge and service provision. Notably, the Welding Research Center, affiliated with UCLV, contributed technology for manufacturing abrasive powders used in floor and terrazzo polishing. This technology is based on the aluminothermic processing of Cuban industrial waste and minerals.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment. | The article mentions that the province of Villa Clara works on strategic development lines directed towards food production, which implies efforts to increase agricultural productivity and improve the incomes of small-scale food producers. |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. | The article mentions that one of the strategic development lines in Villa Clara is directed towards the energy sector, indicating a focus on renewable energy sources to contribute to sustainable development. |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation, including through a focus on high-value-added and labor-intensive sectors. | The article highlights the importance of developing the economy through sustainable innovations and efficient communication work, indicating a focus on economic productivity and technological upgrading. |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending. | The article mentions the Villa Clara Scientific-Technological Park, which focuses on industrial development and the articulation between academic research, the business system, and the government. This indicates efforts to enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities in the industrial sector. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. | The article mentions the importance of infrastructure and sustainable social development as one of the strategic development lines in Villa Clara, indicating efforts towards sustainable urbanization and human settlement planning. |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. | The article mentions the strategic development lines in Villa Clara directed towards natural resources and the environment, indicating a focus on sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. |
Source: cubasi.cu
