During the inaugural conference of the International Congress of Higher Education University 2022, entitled Government management based on science and innovation: advances and challenges, the president explained that communication and creative resistance are pillars of this process. The head of state emphasized popular participation, dialogue with various sectors, programs in communities considered vulnerable, the visits of the Council of Ministers to the territories, and insisted on how higher education institutions support the training of various actors.

In this sense, he highlighted the links between the knowledge sector, the production of goods and services, and public administration, as part of a strategy to face the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Science and innovation have an answer to everything," he said and specified how these influence public policies.

Díaz-Canel recalled the creation of a group of experts to guide the management of the pandemic, which holds systematic exchanges with the country's highest authorities, as well as the founding of the National Innovation Council.

He exemplified that these instances gave impetus to research projects, as they helped to mobilize knowledge, the capacities created and the use of these, in a context in which the threats to Cuba did not cease.

In this regard, the President underscored the impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States, intensified in the midst of the pandemic, which hinders the acquisition of material resources to face the health emergency.

He highlighted the use of the robust biotechnological industry, the health system and higher education, an alliance that allowed the country to have five vaccine candidates against Covid-19 and to currently have almost 88 percent of its population immunized with three doses.

He also mentioned that the support of science made it possible to deploy clinical trials, draft protocols against the disease, develop biotechnological products, tools and scientific publications, in line with the macro-programs and strategic axes of this Caribbean nation.

The relationship between the experts and the Government is intense, respectful and harmonious, and should be extended to address other problems, such as food sovereignty and nutritional education, said the head of State.

Delegates from some 34 countries are attending University 2022, which will be held at the Convention Palace of this capital until next Friday, focused on the role of science and innovation for sustainable and inclusive development.

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