Venezuela and China strike deal for joint scientific projects

The Venezuelan Minister of Science and Technology, Gabriela Jiménez, who led the negotiations, emphasized the importance of this agreement as a “significant advancement” for the South American country

Photo: X.

This Sunday, Venezuela and China signed an agreement between representatives of the Venezuelan Scientific and Technological Park ‘+Ciencia’ and the Chinese conglomerate NeoBay, aimed at enhancing the development of science and innovation.

The agreements are intended to strengthen the national productive apparatus through research and development lines linked to Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, deep learning, bioagriculture, and other areas related to industrialization and robotics.

Venezuelan Minister of Science and Technology, Gabriela Jiménez, who led the negotiations, emphasized the importance of this agreement as a “significant advancement” for the South American country. According to Jiménez, this cooperation not only involves scientific and technological institutions but also directly engages Venezuelan universities and industry.

The memorandum of understanding, as well as a Joint Declaration of International Ecosystems for Entrepreneurs and Innovators, were struck in a ceremony attended by Jiménez, along with the President of NeoBay Technological Park, Zhang Zhigang, and the President of the Scientific and Technological Park +Ciencia, Susana Pinto.

The Scientific and Technological Park +Ciencia was inaugurated in 2023 by Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, and it houses various projects focused on agribusiness, health, food, and technology, according to the Venezuelan Government, aiming to improve the petroleum industry, financial institutions, and promote scientific education among young people.

Zhang Zhigang, President of NeoBay Technological Park, expressed optimism about the collaboration between China and Venezuela, stating his desire to work together to build a better future for both nations.

The agreement is partly attributed to President Nicolás Maduro’s visit to China in September of the previous year, where it was agreed to elevate the level of relations between the two countries to a “strategic partnership against all odds.” During that visit, several bilateral cooperation agreements were signed in various fields, including trade, education, tourism, health, space, science, and technology.

This agreement comes off the back of one reached last week between the Venezuelan government and China aimed at conserving tropical forests in Venezuela, which involves the generation of value-added products to facilitate the protection of tropical forests, enabling concrete conservation actions and the development of oceanography through the use of specialized satellites.

Main source:

Venezuela y China firman memorando sobre desarrollo de la ciencia | La Prensa de Lara (April 28, 2024) 

Others related source:

Venezuela y China acuerdan proyectos conjuntos en parques científicos tecnológicos | Últimas Noticias (April 28, 2024) 

Venezuela y China firman acuerdo de entendimiento para el desarrollo de la ciencia | Noticia al día (April 28, 2024)