COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STARTUPS IN CUBA: FOCUS ON THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND ACADEMIC LINKAGES

This study provides a critical analysis of the development of artificial intelligence (AI) startups in Cuba with special emphasis on agricultural applications. Using a mixed methodology that combines documentary review and comparative analysis, an incipient ecosystem with approximately 5-10 active startups in the sector is identified, highlighting Avangenio (creator of Plataformia and SocIA) and Solutions for Precision Agriculture. The study reveals that Cuban academic research has developed promising applications in precision agriculture, crop prediction and pest detection, although with severe limitations in scalability and practical implementation. The curricular integration of AI in the Agronomy degree is insufficient, with only 2-3 Cuban universities including basic AI content compared to 92% of US universities that have specialized programs. An action plan with 5 strategic axes is proposed to strengthen the agricultural AI ecosystem in Cuba, including curricular updating, creation of specialized laboratories and strengthening of international alliances. The findings suggest that, despite the economic blockade and connectivity limitations, Cuba has the potential to develop contextualized AI solutions that address the challenges of its agricultural sector.