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In the 90s, Cuban universities directed their efforts toward innovation. This “innovation turn” intended to increase the role of Higher Education (HE) in the economic recovery of the country and the solution of significant social problems. At the beginning of last decade universities began to project over the subject of local development (we have called this process “territorial turn”). In the document is explored the capacity of HE to unfold nets that allow the flow of knowledge and technologies for local development. Its role as key actor on the promotion of innovation in municipalities is also analyzed. Through case studies methodologies, it is discussed a group of practices related with alternative energy production, food production based in agroecological methods and the echo-materials production for housing. Each one of those socio-techniques trajectories, emerged in Cuban HE institutions, pay attention to social inclusion, cohesion and social integration goals.