Experiences of Research and Action Work in the Central Areas of Havana.

Over the last 60 years, Cuban universities have established work on social problems as a key objective, both for undergraduate and postgraduate education and for scientific research. In the area of the built environment, work with neighbourhoods and communities has been strengthened. However, due to the complexity of the city, especially in Havana, the university's outputs and results have not always been applied. In the last decade, more collaborative work has been experimented with a research and action approach. It allows a greater involvement of the community as a key actor. Its basis in multi- and transdisciplinary research has demonstrated a greater impact on local transformation. Nevertheless, there are still few implemented solutions. The Urban Research and Action Group of the Technological University of Havana, CUJAE, has applied this kind of approach in different neighbourhoods and communities in Havana, with an increasing socio-technical co-creation process.

This paper shows some results of the experience of co-producing local solutions with multiple actors and especially with the neighbours as protagonists. It shows the relevance of the university when it plays a role of accompaniment and moderation. On the one hand, the creation of capacities to achieve the continuity of any action in the community and to be responsive themselves. On the other hand, the possibility of promoting new ideas and bringing together different social actors, demonstrating its catalytic role in the transformation of the local within global spaces. It also shows the importance of international cooperation as a driving force for such transformations, not only because of the financial contribution, but also because of the possibility of implementing international experience in an often virgin environment. The process of translating research into practice and viceversa finds in these experiences a vital space for development and innovation at the local level.