Skolkovo is looking to tap the biotechnology potential of Cuba and other parts of Latin America, officials said this month after foundation president Victor Vekselberg received a high-level Cuban delegation led by Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart.
Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, left, with Skolkovo president Victor Vekselberg. Photo: Kirill Kaem
During last week’s visit, Vekselberg announced that the foundation was looking to develop closer ties with Cuban scientists and innovators, and taking the Startup Tour to the Caribbean island next year could be a step in that direction.
Skolkovo VP and executive director of the Biomed Cluster Kirill Kaem, who attended the Moscow meeting, said much was to be gained from a closer scientific partnership with Cuba.
“The expected value voiced by Fidel Castro Jr. of the export of biotechnology from Cuba in 2015 is $1 billion,” Kaem said. “This is direct confirmation of the high level of development of the biotechnology sector in Cuba,” he added.
“As a foundation we see huge potential in developing mutually beneficial biotechnology in Cuba, both from the joint projects point of view and with implementing Skolkovo innovations there,” Kaem said.
Russia and Cuba were close allies during the Cold War – as exemplified by Diaz-Balart, Fidel Castro’s first son who studied at the Kurchatov nuclear research institute within Moscow State University – and remain friendly international partners.
Skolkovo is currently considering admitting two projects from Cuba’s Institute of Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology into the ecosystem, Kaem said.
Last September, Skolkovo signed a partnership agreement with the Herber Biotech firm to trial an anti-cancer vaccine in Russia with the support of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.
The Startup Tour officially went international last week with a visit to Almaty, Kazakhstan, its first foray outside Russia in its five-year history.
The goal of the innovations roadshow is to encourage entrepreneurship and venture investment, integrating the Russian regions and other cities into the global innovations process with Skolkovo as the hub.
Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart visited Skolkovo in March 2013, when the sides discussed cooperation in the nuclear industry. From 1978 to 1982, he headed the Cuban Nuclear Energy Commission and currently serves as scientific advisor to Cuba's State Council.