AGP Executive Report

AI in Cuban Media: The Lucas Awards have added a Best AI Video category after a wave of entries used artificial intelligence in music-video production. Digital Payments: A Las Tunas electric company office is testing POS terminals, giving customers—especially older adults without smartphones—a way to pay electronically. Internet Access: Several people in Santa Clara received four- and five-year prison sentences for selling Starlink antennas, underscoring the risks around independent satellite connectivity. Medical Research: Restrictions on supplies and collaboration are hindering Cuban research into hereditary ataxias. Connectivity: Etecsa and Holguín’s electric company are working together to stabilize communications in the province. Biotech: Russia has registered a Cuban medicine for tumor treatment.

Digital Payments: A Las Tunas utility office has piloted POS terminals since August, letting customers without smartphones pay bills electronically. Satellite Internet: Santa Clara residents were reportedly sentenced to four or five years for selling Starlink equipment, though the account reporting the case provided no names or court records. Cuban Innovation: Las Tunas’ CognitIA Mujer uses AI to help women entrepreneurs build digital skills. Research & Health: The US blockade is hindering hereditary ataxia research, while Russia has registered a Cuban drug for tumor treatment. Communications: Etecsa and Holguín’s electric utility are working together to stabilize communications.

Satellite Internet: Several Santa Clara residents reportedly received four- to five-year prison sentences for selling Starlink equipment. A pro-government account said 37 antennas were seized, but did not identify the defendants or provide court documents. Digital Innovation: Las Tunas’ CognitIA Mujer, a new AI-powered platform for women entrepreneurs, aims to build users’ digital skills and support their businesses. Public Health: Health officials in Las Tunas report more than 30 infant poisonings linked to homemade herbal infusions, warning that babies can be especially vulnerable to uncontrolled doses. Telecommunications: Etecsa and Holguín’s electric utility are working together to stabilize communications amid power disruptions. Cuban Biomedicine: Russia has registered a Cuban medicine for tumor treatment, according to reports.

Digital Innovation: Las Tunas’ CognitIA Mujer, Cuba’s first digital platform built for women entrepreneurs, uses AI and practical training to help users grow their businesses. Public Health: Las Tunas specialists report more than 30 infant poisonings linked to homemade herbal infusions, warning that babies’ immature organs make dosing especially risky. Connectivity: Etecsa and the Electric Company are working to stabilize communications in Holguín, while a reported crackdown on illegal Starlink sales in Santa Clara brought prison terms of four to five years for some sellers. Medical Research: Russia has registered a Cuban drug for tumor treatment; separately, a report says U.S. sanctions are hindering research into hereditary ataxias. A Cuban Alzheimer’s nasal spray, NeuralCIM, is approved in Cuba but not by the FDA.

Satellite Internet: Cubans in Santa Clara reportedly received four- to five-year prison sentences over the illegal sale of Starlink antennas. The report says 37 devices were seized, but no official court ruling has been published. Medical Research: Holguín’s hereditary ataxia center has halted prenatal diagnosis, according to its director, as shortages prevent access to the resources needed for the test. Communications: Etecsa and Holguín’s electric company are joining forces to stabilize local communications. Tech Investment: A proposed U.S. Treasury rule would extend restrictions on American investment in sensitive technologies—including AI, biotech and semiconductors—to Cuba; the measure has not yet taken effect.

Tech Investment: A proposed U.S. Treasury rule would add Cuba to restrictions on some U.S. investments in sensitive technologies, including AI, biotechnology and advanced computing. Biotech: Russia has registered a Cuban medicine for tumor treatment, a notable step for the country’s pharmaceutical sector. Connectivity: In Holguín, Etecsa and the Electric Company are working together to stabilize communications amid power disruptions; outages have also caused telecom problems in Havana. Smart Agriculture: The second phase of Cuba-Mexico’s Sembrando Vida project will support 1,500 Holguín producers with seeds, machinery, supplies and technology. Research Links: A Cuban scientist won a nearly $1 million Princeton scholarship, while the University of Holguín and a Siberian university are strengthening scientific cooperation.

Investment Rules: The U.S. Treasury proposed expanding restrictions on American investments in sensitive technologies in Cuba and four other countries. The draft covers areas including AI, biotechnology, semiconductors and quantum technology; it is not yet in force, and comments are due Dec. 7. Communications: Etecsa and Holguín’s electric company are working to stabilize communications in the province, as power outages continue to disrupt telecom services in Havana. Research and Medicine: A Cuban scientist won a nearly $1 million scholarship to conduct research at Princeton, while universities in Holguín and Siberia strengthened scientific cooperation. Russia also registered a Cuban medicine for tumor treatment.

AI in Education: Holguín will host a provincial “Pedagogy 2027” event on teaching in the age of artificial intelligence and climate change. Connectivity: Power cuts have disrupted Havana’s telecommunications, while Etecsa and the electric company are working together to stabilize communications in Holguín. Biotechnology: Cuba is seeking closer economic ties with South Korea, with biotechnology among the potential areas for cooperation; Russia has also registered a Cuban medicine for tumor treatment. Research and Agriculture: Universities in Holguín and Siberia are strengthening scientific cooperation, while a Mexico-backed farming project has expanded to Holguín to support 1,500 producers and their families.

Telecommunications: Etecsa and Holguín’s Electric Company are coordinating repairs to power problems and cable theft that disrupt mobile and data services, with a joint action plan aimed at improving network reliability. Agricultural Technology: A Mexico-backed “Sowing Life” project has expanded to Holguín, targeting 1,500 producers and their families in three municipalities. Medical Research: Russia has registered a Cuban medicine for tumor treatment, while Cuba is preparing a workshop on biosimilars, innovation and healthcare access. Science & Training: Universities in Holguín and Siberia are strengthening research ties, and the University of Holguín has opened a doctoral training school; a Cuban scientist also won a nearly $1 million Princeton research scholarship.

Connectivity: Etecsa and Holguín’s Electric Company are coordinating repairs to stabilize telecom service, targeting failing transformers and stolen power cables. Havana also reported fresh outages disrupting communications. Biotech: Russia registered a Cuban medicine for tumor treatment, while Cuba prepared a workshop on biosimilars, healthcare innovation and access. Research: A Cuban scientist won a nearly $1 million Princeton scholarship to conduct research, and Holguín and Siberian universities agreed to strengthen scientific cooperation. Green technology: Researchers in central Cuba developed an organic fertilizer for coastal vegetation.

Biotech: Russia registered Cuba’s cancer drug Nimotuzumab, to be marketed as Nimolancim; Cuba’s Center for Molecular Immunology is collaborating on production. Research Links: The University of Holguín and Siberian Federal University are exploring joint work in artificial intelligence and computer science. Digital Infrastructure: Power outages disrupted telecommunications in several Havana municipalities, highlighting the strain blackouts place on connectivity. AI & Biopharma: Cuban IT firm ETI and Agile Dynamics agreed to develop proposals for a biotech investment platform and a Spanish-language AI layer, with healthcare as a focus. Research Funding: A Cuban scientist won a scholarship worth nearly $1 million to conduct research at Princeton.

Biotech and AI: BioCubaFarma’s IT arm ETI signed an MoU with Agile Dynamics to develop a year-long program, including a proposed investment vehicle for Cuban biotech and a Spanish-language AI layer focused on healthcare. University Research: Holguín University and Siberian Federal University are exploring joint work in artificial intelligence and computer science, alongside virtual language classes and internships. Digital Infrastructure: Power outages are disrupting telecommunications in several Havana municipalities, adding pressure to already fragile services. Smart Agriculture: Cuban journalists visiting China’s Heilongjiang province saw autonomous tractors, drones and smart irrigation systems; one said the machinery could interest Cuban farmers.

Telecommunications: Power shortages are disrupting ETECSA services in eight areas of Havana, with repairs dependent on electricity returning to network sites. Smart Agriculture: Cuban journalists saw autonomous tractors, drones and irrigation systems in China’s Heilongjiang province; a Prensa Latina reporter said the equipment could interest Cuban farmers. Energy Investment: Cuba’s new oil rules allow direct fuel sales and encourage private investment, but economists warn that high costs, limited access to technology and machinery, and state centralization remain major barriers. Health Technology: A Holguín community event will share skin-cancer prevention advice and discuss HeberFERON, a Cuban-developed treatment for carcinoma. Seismology: Cuba’s National Seismological Service rejected a viral earthquake warning, saying the Oriente fault showed no unusual activity.

Power Grid: A Holguín writer described going 25 hours without electricity after the local utility suspended circuit rotations, a stark sign of Cuba’s strained energy system. Research: A Cuban scientist won a scholarship worth nearly $1 million to conduct research at Princeton. Cuba is also preparing a workshop on biosimilars, healthcare innovation and access. Clean Energy: Rising U.S. solar exports are helping Cuba keep some lights on as outages persist. Agriculture: Researchers in central Cuba have developed an organic fertilizer for coastal vegetation, while the University of Holguín has opened a doctoral training school.

Science Community: The University of Havana mourned theoretical physicist Melquíades de Dios Leyva, who taught quantum mechanics for more than five decades and founded a research group in theoretical solid-state physics. Research Funding: Cuban-born Princeton chemist José Roque won a $985,834 fellowship for research exploring silicon-based catalysts that could support new medicines, materials and cleaner technologies. Biotechnology: A Havana workshop on October 22–23 will examine biosimilar development, regulation and access, including the presentation of Rituximab. Energy Infrastructure: A fire at the Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant left one generating unit out of service, adding pressure to Cuba’s strained power system.

Research: Cuban-born Princeton chemist José Roque won a $985,834 fellowship for a five-year project exploring silicon as a substitute for metals in catalysis, with potential uses in medicines, materials and cleaner technologies. Biotechnology: FARMACUBA’s Oct. 22–23 Havana workshop will examine biosimilar regulation, clinical evaluation and access, and present Rituximab. Energy: A fire at the Santa Cruz thermoelectric plant put one unit out of operation. Reports that hospital solar panels work only in daylight highlight the limits of backup power. Training: The University of Holguín opened a doctoral training school, expanding research training on the island.