National system of innovation in biotechnology in a developing country – a Gerschenkronian approach to biopharmaceuticals and bioagriculture in Iran

This study is a qualitative analysis to investigate the extent and characteristics of the influence of the national system of innovation (NSI) on the performance of the biotechnology sector in a developing country. While developing country ̳leapfrogging‘ would, at first sight, seem to contradict mainstream theorising about latecomer innovation, it fits well with a Gerschenkronian focus on therole of substitutes to overcome major stumbling blocks to economic developmentand the role of institutions such as banks in directing investment. This makes it compatible with an older, more traditional literature. Yet, even though such success can readily be understood for scale-intensive heavy industries with well-established technological trajectories, it does not seem so simple for biotech, where success is still highly uncertain, even for firms in developed countries, and where directed governance structures of the sort authors such as Gerschenkron highlight are not normally deemed useful. To identify what influences the uneven performance of the bioagricultural and biopharmaceutical sectors in Iran, a parallel approach to Gerschenkron‘s is implemented in this thesis, to determine whether the characteristics of Iran‘s NSI in biopharmaceuticals differ from those of bioagricultural sector and whether these differences explain the differing performance. The study makes extensive use of interviews as well as documentation to assess the actual unfolding of events. The findings were unexpected at the outset of the project as the uneven development in the biotechnology sector of Iran turns out to have been caused less by technological failure than by regulatory failures on the part of government. This demonstrates that while the government can speed up economic development by overcoming barriers (through for example promoting successful access to technological knowledge, research and development), it can also hamperinnovation by failing to provide appropriate legislation and to adjust laws and regulations to the stage of technological development that the biotechnology sector of a developing country has achieved. Thus Gerschenkron‘s conclusion about the state as a substitute for ̳economic backwardness‘ is turned on its hea

Cuban energy futures: The Transition towards a renewable energy system – political, economic, social and environmental factors

This eBook is a unique scientific journey to the changing frontiers of energy transition in Cuba. The focus of this milestone publication is on social, economic, political and cultural aspects of energy transition in Cuba. Green energy transition with renewable energy sources requires the ability to identify opportunities across industries and services and apply the right technologies and tools to achieve more sustainable results. This eBook is covering a large diversity of Caribbean country´s experiences and realities trying to keep up with updated energy policy debates and dialogues. It combines accessible theory, relevant energy policy analysis and data, information and vital research of current Cuban economic, social and energy systems

Desenvolvimento de vacinas biotecnológicas em Cuba e na Argentina

The pandemic caused by Covid-19 clearly shows that the development of biotechnological vaccines represents a key social function for the health systems of countries and a central aspect of health sovereignty. This article analyzes the public policies implemented by Cuba and Argentina during the period of 1980 and 2020 associated with the development of biotechnological vaccines. It is shown that Cuba became a leading country by following a closed-loop policy, allowing it to create a virtuous scientific-technological platform, aimed at meeting the health needs of its population, controlling the design, patenting, producing and marketing of vaccines. On the other hand, in Argentina, specific plans, programs and strategies have been created to promote and finance the biotechnology sector in general, and the design of vaccines in particular, allowing the consolidation of the basic science associated with this field. However, it has not been possible to link R&D with production and commercialization, neither with the resolution of the social needs and demands in terms of health of its population.La pandemia causada por la Covid-19 pone de manifiesto descarnadamente que el desarrollo de vacunas biotecnológicas representa una función social clave para los sistemas de salud de los países y un aspecto central de soberanía sanitaria. En este artículo se analizan las políticas públicas implementadas por Cuba y Argentina en el periodo 1980-2020 asociadas con el desarrollo de vacunas biotecnológicas. Se muestra que Cuba se convirtió en un país líder al seguir una política de ciclo cerrado permitiéndole crear una plataforma científico-tecnológica virtuosa, orientada a cubrir las necesidades sanitarias de su población, controlando el diseño, patentamiento, producción y comercialización de vacunas. Por su parte, en Argentina se han creado planes, programas y estrategias puntuales de impulso y financiamiento al sector biotecnológico en general, y al diseño de vacunas en particular, permitiendo la consolidación de la ciencia básica asociada a este campo. Sin embargo, no se ha logrado vincular la I+D con la producción y comercialización, tampoco con la resolución de las necesidades y demandas sociales en materia de salud de su población.A pandemia causada pela Covid-19 mostra claramente que o desenvolvimento de vacinas biotecnológicas representa uma função social chave para os sistemas de saúde dos países e um aspecto central da soberania da saúde. Este artigo analisa as políticas públicas implementadas por Cuba e pela Argentina no período 1980-2020 associadas ao desenvolvimento de vacinas biotecnológicas. Mostra-se que Cuba se tornou um país líder ao seguir uma política de ciclo fechado que lhe permitiu criar uma virtuosa plataforma científico-tecnológica voltada para atender às necessidades de saúde de sua população, controlando o design, o patenteamento, a produção e a comercialização de vacinas. Por outro lado, na Argentina foram elaborados planos, programas e estratégias específicas para promover e financiar o setor de biotecnologia em geral e o desenho de vacinas em particular, permitindo a consolidação da ciência básica associada a esse campo. Porém, não tem sido possível vincular a P&D à produção e comercialização, nem à resolução das necessidades e demandas sociais em termos de saúde de sua população

Desenvolvimento de vacinas biotecnológicas em Cuba e na Argentina

La pandemia causada por la Covid-19 pone de manifiesto descarnadamente que el desarrollo de vacunas biotecnológicas representa una función social clave para los sistemas de salud de los países y un aspecto central de soberanía sanitaria. En este artículo se analizan las políticas públicas implementadas por Cuba y Argentina en el periodo 1980-2020 asociadas con el desarrollo de vacunas biotecnológicas. Se muestra que Cuba se convirtió en un país líder al seguir una política de ciclo cerrado permitiéndole crear una plataforma científico-tecnológica virtuosa, orientada a cubrir las necesidades sanitarias de su población, controlando el diseño, patentamiento, producción y comercialización de vacunas. Por su parte, en Argentina se han creado planes, programas y estrategias puntuales de impulso y financiamiento al sector biotecnológico en general, y al diseño de vacunas en particular, permitiendo la consolidación de la ciencia básica asociada a este campo. Sin embargo, no se ha logrado vincular la I+D con la producción y comercialización, tampoco con la resolución de las necesidades y demandas sociales en materia de salud de su población.The pandemic caused by Covid-19 clearly shows that the development of biotechnological vaccines represents a key social function for the health systems of countries and a central aspect of health sovereignty. This article analyzes the public policies implemented by Cuba and Argentina during the period of 1980 and 2020 associated with the development of biotechnological vaccines. It is shown that Cuba became a leading country by following a closed-loop policy, allowing it to create a virtuous scientific-technological platform, aimed at meeting the health needs of its population, controlling the design, patenting, producing and marketing of vaccines. On the other hand, in Argentina, specific plans, programs and strategies have been created to promote and finance the biotechnology sector in general, and the design of vaccines in particular, allowing the consolidation of the basic science associated with this field. However, it has not been possible to link R&D with production and commercialization, neither with the resolution of the social needs and demands in terms of health of its population.A pandemia causada pela Covid-19 mostra claramente que o desenvolvimento de vacinas biotecnológicas representa uma função social chave para os sistemas de saúde dos países e um aspecto central da soberania da saúde. Este artigo analisa as políticas públicas implementadas por Cuba e pela Argentina no período 1980-2020 associadas ao desenvolvimento de vacinas biotecnológicas. Mostra-se que Cuba se tornou um país líder ao seguir uma política de ciclo fechado que lhe permitiu criar uma virtuosa plataforma científico-tecnológica voltada para atender às necessidades de saúde de sua população, controlando o design, o patenteamento, a produção e a comercialização de vacinas. Por outro lado, na Argentina foram elaborados planos, programas e estratégias específicas para promover e financiar o setor de biotecnologia em geral e o desenho de vacinas em particular, permitindo a consolidação da ciência básica associada a esse campo. Porém, não tem sido possível vincular a P&D à produção e comercialização, nem à resolução das necessidades e demandas sociais em termos de saúde de sua população.Cátedra Libre Ciencia, Política y Socieda

Cuban Energy Futures. The Transition towards a Renewable Energy System – Political, Economic, Social and Environmental Factors

This article looks at the development of Cuba from economic and global perspectives. These twoperspectives are directly in relation to one another. We discuss first the historical development,Cuban Revolution, cooperation with the Soviet Union and the aspects of bilateral trade. In this context,we also discuss the economic cooperation with Venezuela and the impacts of the US blockade.We base our analysis partly on the theoretical perspective of the island economy and dependencytheory. We also carry out a decomposition analysis of the Cuban energy economy to illustrate thedrivers of energy use and the CO2 emissions in the country. Next, we will look at the aspects ofregional development in Cuba and the rural/urban changes. Also, the changes in population structurewill be discussed because it has an impact on future economic development.3/202

Cuban Energy Futures: The Transition towards a Renewable Energy System – Political, Economic, Social and Environmental Factors

In this article, we explored the complicated role Cuba plays in global power politics through geopolitics and geoeconomics as well as from the viewpoint of dependency. There is no denying that the current global climate presents a challenge to the Cuban state. Cuba is still heavily impacted by dependencies thus making it vulnerable. Dependence is a corollary of dominance, a situation in which a developing country has to rely on a developed country’s domestic and international eco- 85 nomic policy to stimulate its own economic growth and development. The Cuban space for manoeuvering is limited and makes the policy forming ever so important. The situation of the state is partly a result of its historical context with path dependencies. Cuban economic structure is still dependent on old production structures established in the past and there is a lot of potential for development. The source of dependency comes from few export commodities as well as few partnering countries. In the case of import commodities, the variability is greater and the number of partner countries is larger resulting in less dependency. However, dependency on food and technology imports remains a significant challenge. The US blockade creates major obstacles for Cuban development. This has given opportunities for other actors to strengthen their cooperation with Cuba. China has become a prominent actor in the region and has considerably increased its influence in the Cuban economy. The European Union has through its Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) pursued to develop a closer bond between the two actors. However, it is important to note that the dependencies have several different forms as illustrated by the cross-impact analysis. The results of the cross-impact analysis display the limitations of Cuban influence as well as high dependency on the global actors. The geopolitical and geoeconomic frameworks provide an intriguing approach to examine these power relations. Yet, a variety of possibilities still exist for Cuba. Balanced cooperation with the Caribbean countries and the European Union could, for example, provide new opportunities for mutually beneficial collaborations. These partners come crucial in developing, for instance, the already promising fields of biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries. Utilizing these opportunities takes careful planning and smart investments. To reach their full potential it is necessary to take into account the different interactions of the complex domestic and global political processes. Cuba is on its own, facing challenging trade-offs to harmonize social and economic objectives. Especially, maintaining progress in education, health, life expectancy and other social indicators while providing incentives for personal advance, entrepreneurial initiatives and improvements in productivity call for an extremely difficult political balancing act in Cuba. Historically, Cuba’s achievements in social services are real and undeniable. Since the 1961 nationalization of education, health and other services, all Cubans have enjoyed free access to education, health care and social protection. In Cuba social development has always been a political priority, even in times of severe economic crisis. About up to one-third of the national budget has been systematically allocated to the social welfare sectors.3/202

Diaspora and Trust

Diaspora and Trust charts changing Sino-Latin relations at the outset of the 21st century. Combining political-economic analysis with ethnography, the book examines the responses of Cuba and Mexico to China’s growing global influence. Despite opposite economic policy orientations, neither Latin American country has successfully adapted to new conditions of cooperation and competition with China. Furthermore, Cuba and Mexico both struggle with uncertain relationships to the Chinese diaspora communities within their borders. TRUST AND DIASPORA draws on fieldwork in all three countries, providing a rich account of personal experiences at the intersection of global and local affairs. In the process, author Adrian H. Hearn advocates a paradigm for international relations and economic development predicated on the idea of trust. Hearn’s study theorizes trust as an alternative to existing models of exchange, including those based on social capital in the West and traditional Confucian values in China. The book argues convincingly for trust as a foundation for fruitful change in a globalized Cuba and Mexico and as a key to new balances of state, private, and civic power necessitated by the rise of China. This title was made Open Access by libraries from around the world through Knowledge Unlatched