The First Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, learned today about the strategies of the Skolkovo Foundation for development and commercialization of new technologies during a visit to its facilities.
Victor Vekselberg, head of the nonprofit organization created by the government in September, 2010, shared with the Cuban leader and the delegation about Skolkovo's projects, which aim to accelerate Russia's transformation from a country supplying hydrocarbons, into an economy based in innovation.
Diaz-Canel highlighted during the dialogue how the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, said in the 60s, that the future of the island should depend on the contributions of science.
Diaz-Canel added that this vision is a reality today in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
The Cuban First Vice President visited some facilities of the project, which by 2020 will occupy around two million square meters of residential and industrial areas, where nearly 35.000 people will be devoted to innovation.
Alexandr Kuleshov, president of Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), explained to the Cuban leader that this center provides graduate education programs.
Diaz-Canel was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rogelio Sierra and the Cuban Ambassador to Rusia, Emilio Lozada.