President Nicolás Maduro led the ceremony of the XX Dr. Humberto Fernández-Morán National Awards for Science, Technology and Innovation on Tuesday, held at the Teresa Carreño Theater. During the event, he highlighted the role of science as a tool for the defense of the homeland and the construction of a scientific power in South America and the Caribbean.

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The president stressed that scientific knowledge, at the highest level, is yielding results for food production and pointed out that Venezuela is advancing in the application of science to solve social problems: “We are thinking about how to cure cancer, chikungunya, diabetes, how to take care of children and children with autism: an applied science for life and development, with bioethics for the creation of science”.

He also mentioned the presence of 67 thousand scientists in Venezuelan territory and the return of professionals who migrated due to economic situations. “We have to have faith in our abilities and potential,” he said. He assured that “we have found the way, and Venezuela is heading to make a great pole of scientific creation and innovation for development and peace.

He highlighted the training of 756,000 children in the great seedbeds for the training of scientists, describing them as “the great center of scientific creation.” He stressed the importance of the cycles of sowing values and love for the homeland, and said: “Let’s learn from everyone, but let’s produce in Venezuelan, let’s depend on no one. In the past it was a utopia; today is a concrete utopia that we are going to achieve sooner rather than later.”

The president also referred to international achievements: “We have won 22 gold medals in 22 scientific competitions” in areas such as mathematics, nanotechnology, chemistry and physics. In addition, he emphasized the role of youth in the defense of Venezuelanness, in the face of what he described as attempts to attack from abroad.

“Independence or nothing,” the president said, reiterating his commitment to scientific sovereignty. “Today they threaten Venezuela: absolute serenity. The homeland will continue to grow; let’s keep moving forward.”

The ceremony recognized the work of researchers, institutions and national programs that contribute to scientific progress in strategic areas, from health to food security, within the framework of the technological autonomy policy.

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