Innovation Management in the Main Biotech Companies in Cuba

Background: The patents granted on modern biotechnology in its early years increased faster compared to other fields. This is because biotech is a sector that intensively generates and uses basic and applied science to obtain products and processes that must be protected from imitation by competitors. The management of human talent to enhance the inventions should be planned strategically and must be integrated with the management of innovation. Objective; This paper focuses on the analysis of the innovation management in the main Cuban Biotechnology Centers especially at the Centro de Inmunología Molecular. Method; The information was gathered from websites of public domain: USPTO database, Espacenet, Cuban Intellectual Property Office and the databases of Centro de Inmunología Molecular and Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología. Results; The two Cuban companies actively patenting in United States, Europe and Japan are biotech companies which are Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología and Centro de Inmunología Molecular, in this order. Both companies have also received different awards granted by World Intellectual Property Organization, Cuban Industrial Property Office and Cuban Academy of Science. Conclusion; The development of closed production cycle as well as the connections of these entities with educational institutions, allows the innovation management in the above centers. However, it is evident that in Cuba for R+ D+ i system effectiveness strategic policies contributing to the development of efficient production chains and value outside of Havana and the retention of highly qualified personnel in the most dynamic and creative sectors of the Cuban economy are required.