Mr. President,
Distinguished Delegates,
The Cuban delegation would like to express its gratitude to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and the UNCTAD Secretariat for the opportunity to engage in discussions on such a crucial topic, which is fundamental to both national and international efforts in promoting sustainable development and implementing the 2030 Agenda.
In Cuba, as elsewhere in the world, the COVID-19 pandemic taught valuable lessons on the urgent need to strengthen the role of Science, Technology, and Innovation in driving the country’s economic and social development. Our aim is to consolidate a sustainable and inclusive development model that fosters progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
For this reason, the Cuban Government has placed Science, Technology, and Innovation at the highest level of priority, recognising it as one of the three pillars of governance, alongside digital transformation and social communication.
In Cuba, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (CITMA) is the State body responsible for coordinating the Science, Technology, and Innovation sector. However, efforts are underway to establish a complex governance structure that transcends ministerial or sectoral perspectives and engages the highest government level.
To support this initiative, a National Innovation Council has been created under the direct leadership of the President of the Republic, where priority scientific and innovation-related issues are discussed. For instance, this council has repeatedly discussed the policy for Cuba’s digital transformation.
Furthermore, we are enhancing the influence of science on public policymaking, strengthening the role of expert knowledge in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of policies.
The main national priorities in Science, Technology, and Innovation have been identified, with a central focus on food production—where agroecology is gaining importance—and the transformation of the country’s energy matrix, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy sources.
Similarly, tackling climate change and maintaining the nation’s long-standing commitment to healthcare remain crucial aspects of our agenda.
Nevertheless, in Cuba, as in many developing countries, a wealth of potentially valuable knowledge—often outside traditional scientific and institutional frameworks—remains untapped.
Therefore, our public policy on Science, Technology, and Innovation is being oriented to incorporate inclusive and transformative social innovation, making an impact at local and even community levels. This approach fosters innovative processes across various areas –including food production, healthcare, housing, and energy- geared towards meeting the needs of our population.
To this end, the country relies on a Programme and Project Management System with nearly 2,000 projects operating at the national, sectoral and territorial levels.
Mr. President,
Distinguished Delegates,
Cuba is undertaking this monumental endeavour, like many other developing countries, while confronting the daunting challenges posed by the prevailing unjust international order.
This complex situation is compounded by the effects of the application of unilateral coercive measures, which violate the United Nations Charter and International Law.
For over six decades, Cuba has been the victim of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government, which is the greatest obstacle to the country's economic and social development. No citizen or sector of the Cuban economy is exempt from the adverse effects of this illegal policy, and the area of science and innovation is no exception.
The blockade remains the primary focus of the United States' policy towards Cuba, and its impact has been exacerbated by the current administration's decision to tighten the tough economic warfare measures against the country, which demonstrates the aggressive United States stance against sovereignty, peace and the well-being of the Cuban people.
The blockade has been further reinforced by Cuba's arbitrary continued inclusion in the State Department's unilateral list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism –a designation that has no basis, legitimacy, or international backing whatsoever.
Despite these obstacles, we refuse to be deterred. Cuba has in its favour an established science, technology and innovation system, trained human resources in essential disciplines, and a political will to integrating Science, Technology and Innovation into its development plans.
Mr. President,
Distinguished Delegates,
The development and implementation of sustainable and inclusive solutions based on science, technology, and innovation remain a challenge for countries in the South, which generally lack the infrastructure and human resources capable of assimilating scientific and technological innovations.
Moreover, financing that could be allocated to scientific development must often compete with other priorities such as eradicating extreme poverty, hunger, poor sanitation, and inequalities.
For these reasons, it is essential to strengthen mechanisms for international cooperation in technical and financial assistance, technology transfer, and capacity-building. The urgent need for industrialised nations to honour their Official Development Assistance commitments and provide new, additional, and predictable financial resources is paramount to ensuring the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, leaving no one behind.
For science to become fully integrated into development, it is required to advance towards more interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary models, enhance the alignment of scientific practices with public policies, transform evaluation criteria to include economic, social, and environmental implications, improve communication with the general public, and reinforce the cultural influence of science.
In this endeavour, Mr. President, Cuba stands ready to collaborate with the Commission.
Thank you.