Pretoria march 4, 2021.- Through videoconference, a fruitful working meeting was held today between executives and specialists from Cuba and South Africa, with a view to expanding and diversifying bilateral cooperation in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the Biocubafarma Group, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and the Cuban Embassy in South Africa were the Cuban institutions represented.
From South Africa participated authorities and specialists from the National Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the National Department of Health, the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the South African Academy of Sciences, the Scientific and Industrial Research Council, the Medical Research Council, BIOVAC Institute and the Human Sciences Research Council.
Both parties agreed on the importance of collaborating in the joint development of vaccines for human and animal health, biopharmaceutical products, nanotechnology for medical applications, technological innovations, robotics and Artificial Intelligence; among other areas already identified with great potential to expand and diversify the bilateral cooperation in the short and medium term, for mutual benefit.
They also addressed the expansion of cooperation through the creation of joint ventures and the transfer of technology for the development of biotechnological products.
The Cuban scientists presented to the South African side detailed information on the vaccine candidates in which the Island works to face COVID19, and on the drug JUSVINZA, which is part of the treatment protocol against the virus.