By María Josefina Arce

Cuba's universities, with their great scientific-technological potential, are increasingly expanding their participation in socioeconomic development, a strategy encouraged by the government to contribute to the advancement of the nation and the welfare of its citizens.

The year 2023 showed how much ground has been gained in this regard. According to authorities of the Ministry of Higher Education, Cuban centers of higher education were involved in more than 1,300 projects last year.

The results have been highly satisfactory in priority areas of the country such as food and nutrition security, biomedicine, public policies, digital transformation and local development.

Precisely 400 of these initiatives were directly linked to the progress of various localities in the country.

Those related to the use of renewable energy sources, which not only benefit the inhabitants of a given locality, but also help to protect the environment and are also part of the government's plans to substantially reduce dependence on fossil fuels, have had a great impact.

Professors, researchers and students have also contributed to the training of local economic actors and the incorporation of the population into community work.