CLAYTON LEVY

O scientific and technological cooperation agreement signed in October by the governments of Brazil and Cuba may represent a closer relationship between Cuban research organizations and Unicamp. On December 4th, two directors of the Cuban Sidero-Mechanical Ministry, Iván Oramas and Lázaro Díaz, were at the University to learn about the nine companies incubated at Incamp. The following day, it was the turn of the Cuban consul general in Brazil, Omar Torres Olivares, to visit the University. The objective was to visit centers of excellence and bring the Brazilian experience to Cuba.

Currently, Unicamp maintains agreements with the University of Havana to develop academic and research projects in six different areas. The partnerships involve the faculties of Education (FE), Food Engineering (FEA) and Physical Education (EF), and the institutes of Chemistry (IQ), Language Studies (IEL) and Philosophy and Human Sciences (IFCH). This approximation, however, could become even greater.

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed in Havana by the Minister of Science and Technology, Ronaldo Sardenberg, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Environment of Cuba, Rosa Elena Simenón, aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in Science and Technology between the two countries , with priority given to the areas of energy generation (biomass), bioinformatics and biotechnology applied to human health and agriculture.

Together, Brazilians and Cubans will also increase joint efforts in sugarcane genomic research, clinical and pre-clinical research and the search for new vaccines for tropical diseases. The memorandum includes the best use of sugarcane biomass to generate electricity and the exchange of Brazilian technology for using alcohol as fuel.

Like Brazil, Cuba has been developing actions to consolidate a technological innovation policy. According to official indicators from the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the number of doctors has been growing continuously, rising from 4.984 in 1995 to 6.076 in 2000. As a result of programs and projects in the area of ​​S&T, in 1998 267 new products emerged , 190 new technologies and 33 prototypes. In 2000, these numbers jumped to 546 new products, 646 new technologies and 344 prototypes.

In 1995, total expenditure on S&T was 166,2 million pesos. In 2000, this value reached 250,2 million pesos. By source of financing, in 2000 these expenses were 63% from the government, 32% from companies and 5% from external financing. In 2000, 31% of S&T projects were in the health area. The data was released during the Cuba Technology Show, promoted by Finep on November 20th and 21st, in São Paulo, in parallel with the 7th Venture Forum. The Cuban mission at the event was led by the director of technology and innovation at the Cuban government's Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Vito Quevedo. Shortly before boarding the flight back, he gave the following interview to Jornal da Unicamp.

Journal of Unicamp - How does Cuba address the issue of science and technology within its development policy?

Vito Quevedo - Cuban policy is based on the performance of a system of science and technological innovation, with priorities defined based on the needs of the nation's socioeconomic development.

JU - What is this system like?

Quevedo - This system, on the one hand, drives the development of scientific research to obtain new knowledge and, on the other hand, develops the mechanisms so that this knowledge can be converted into values ​​for society, the economy and the environment.

JU - What stage is the process at?

Quevedo - Just like Brazil, we are learning to generate new knowledge. We have scientific institutions, we publish articles in specialized journals, we register patents, but the number of new products, services and technologies is not yet at the levels we desire.

JU - What percentage of the gross domestic product does Cuba allocate to investments in science and technology?

Quevedo - As everyone knows, our country is going through a difficult economic situation for several reasons, including the economic embargo. But this economic situation has not prevented the growth of investments in science and technology. Throughout the 1990s, there was growth from year to year, going from 1,4% in 1993 to 1,7% in 2000. In 2001, it rose to 1,8% and, in 2002, it will reach approximately 1,9%. %.

JU - What is the main cause of this growth?

Quevedo - Firstly, our government's policy, which considers science as one of the fundamental elements for the development of society. Secondly, the infrastructure that has been created in our country, which has more than 200 research institutions and 50 universities. Thirdly, the high development of our human resources. Cuba invested in education, health and the training of its talents.

JU - And what is the area of ​​scientific research that has developed the most in Cuba? Is it still biotechnology?

Quevedo - Biotechnology is a very important branch, which has developed a lot and which places us in the most advanced places in the world. However, there are other very important lines, such as research into energy, information technology and new materials.

JU - What is the impact of the economic blockade on the S&T area in Cuba?

Quevedo - Firstly, in the acquisition of research equipment for our centers. It affected inputs, such as reagents and other elements for experiments. It affected the participation of our researchers in international events. It also created a very difficult situation in relation to the information that entered our country. Economically, we calculate in tens of millions of pesos what Cuba lost due to the economic blockade.

JU - Despite this, the number of doctors has increased in recent years.

Quevedo - Yes. Every year we are increasing the number of doctors. Today we have more than 5 thousand doctors.

JU - Are they all able to work professionally in the area of ​​science and technology in Cuba or are some left marginalized?

Quevedo - No. Doctors are either at a university, or at a research center or in a large company. In any of these places they have the capacity to act. Nothing limits or marginalizes them. On the contrary, everyone is called upon. There are currently around 13 national science and technology programs in Cuba, which bring together more than 500 projects.

JU - Could you tell us more about these 13 programs?

Quevedo - We have programs in the fields of biomedicine, genetic engineering, energy, food production, sugar cane and its derivatives, themes linked to society and the environment, bioinformatics, biology, computing and information technology.

JU - Do these programs include, for example, the genetic mapping of agricultural products important to the Cuban economy?

Quevedo - We work on it, yes.

JU - What are the products?

Quevedo - Sugar cane, citrus and others.

JU - Is this research already at an advanced stage?

Quevedo - Well advanced, but not yet at the levels we want.

JU - The Brazilian government has just sent a bill for technological innovation to Congress. Is there already legislation in Cuba that encourages technological innovation?

Quevedo - Yes. Cuba is currently going through a process of improving its business system. This process has innovation as one of its variables.

JU - Is this recent?

Quevedo - It started three years ago and has already involved more than 200 companies in the improvement process. It is a different organizational system with certain economic goals for workers and a lot of possibility for innovation.