Correspondence: Ernesto López Mola, Avenue 31, e/ 158 y 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, Habana 10 600, Habana, Cuba. Tel: +53 7 271 23 97; Fax: +53 7 271 80 70. E-mail: ernesto.lopez@cigb.edu.cu

¹is a founder and Director of Business and Project Development at the Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología (CIGB). He was previously a researcher and Head of vaccine manufacture at the CIGB and Sales Manager at Heber Biotec S.A.

²is a founder of the Business Development Group (GNDP), and he has been working in the sector for 15 years. Prior to joining the GNDP, he worked in the Vaccines Division of the CIGB.

³joined the GNDP in July 2001. Prior to joining GNDP, he was a researcher in the Immunotechnology Division at the CIGB, and he has been working in the sector for more than 10 years.

⁴is Chemical Engineer in the Direction of Manufacture at the CIGB. Previously, he worked at the GNDP for two years. He has been working in the sector for more than ten years.

⁵has been working at the CIGB as medical doctor for 20 years.

⁶is the General Director of the CIGB. Previously, he was Director of Research at the Center for Biological Research. He is a pioneer of work on recombinant DNA in Cuba.

Received 4 August 2006; Revised 4 August 2006.

Abstract

An analysis of the biotechnology development in Cuba for 20 years has been attempted in this paper. This paper deals with the evolution of the biotechnology sector from the 1980s, how it was structured and the most important scientific and technical results. Relevant discoveries, methodologies, technologies, and products developed at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology are also presented as significant contributions to the advances of the life sciences. Data and evidences are shown in this document that demonstrates the feasibility of developing a new industry in a developing country under foreign economic pressures. Conclusions suggest new paradigms, and future discussions of the broadest interest on the Cuban approach followed for developing the biotechnology industry.