Russia to Establish Advanced Leadership and Development Tech Center in Cuba

In a move backed by the St. Petersburg government, Russia is set to establish an Advanced Leadership and Development Technology Center in Cuba. This announcement followed a visit by a delegation from St. Petersburg to the island, led by Yulia Smirnova, head of the Committee for Informatization and Communications, as reported on the Russian Embassy in Cuba’s Facebook page.

The delegation took part in the SIGESTIC’25 expo, focusing on information technology management systems. During this event, discussions centered on the joint initiative to develop the Advanced Leadership and Development Technology Center in Cuba.

"The St. Petersburg delegation elaborated on the Center's concept, highlighting its potential to foster digital sovereignty and the training of highly skilled IT professionals," they explained. Additionally, the delegation met with Cuba's Minister of Communications, Mayra Arevic Marín; Minister of Higher Education, Walter Baluja García; and executives from the pharmaceutical conglomerate BioCubaFarma and ETI, a subsidiary of this business group.

The delegation also visited Cárdenas municipality in Matanzas province, the local Technopark, and Havana's Technological University (CUJAE), along with two other schools in the capital that had previously received computer equipment and interactive boards from St. Petersburg.

Later, at the Russian embassy, the delegation was welcomed by Sergey Parkhomenko, the Chargé d'Affaires, and engaged with representatives from Cinesoft, a company specializing in digital platforms and multimedia content.

"This visit laid the groundwork for long-term collaboration between St. Petersburg and Cuba in information technology, education, and creative industries," the statement concluded.

Cuba as Russia's Silicon Valley

In July, Cuba's government eagerly announced the development of Digital Cay, an ambitious Russian tech project aimed at transforming the Isle of Youth into a tropical “Silicon Valley.” Touted by state-run media like Cubadebate and buoyed by Russian propaganda, Digital Cay is envisioned as a tech hub with over 15,000 residents, including 12,000 specialists and 3,000 students focused on localizing the production of equipment and software tailored to regional needs.

However, the feasibility of this project in Cuba's context is questionable, as it requires the construction or renovation of essential infrastructure for residents' living and working needs: offices, laboratories, industrial plants, residences, shops, a mall, sports, cultural, and recreational facilities. Moreover, the 'cluster' is planned to include nurseries, schools, and university branches, according to the news portal.

The project’s authors emphasized the necessity of quality communication routes and services like gas, water, electricity, sewage, and waste collection, which, ironically, are dysfunctional in the Caribbean nation.

Though the project aims to provide ICT solutions from the island to Latin America, analysts suggest that behind the facade of development and modernization, Russia’s plan seems more geared towards strengthening its geopolitical and digital presence in Latin America than benefiting Cubans.

The project aims to "boost the international expansion" of Russia's information and communication technology sector. Alexander Volkov, director of GenIT — the Russian company leading the project — noted a "high demand in Latin America and the Caribbean for Russian ICT equipment and solutions."

Cuba is not only a historical ally of the Kremlin but also an ideal location to sidestep international restrictions, obscure corporate identities, and market Russian products under Latin American brands.

While project spokespeople stress the importance of "sovereign IT infrastructure," Russia's cybersecurity history suggests otherwise. Independent organizations have reported that many of these Russian solutions have been employed for cyber espionage, mass surveillance, and political control.