The “Modernizing the Uzbekistan National Innovation System (MUNIS) Project” represents a strategic initiative in line with the Uzbekistan Government’s vision to elevate the nation to an upper-middle-income status. This project, funded by the World Bank, is designed to raise the bar for scientific research, invigorate innovation in the private sector, and establish the foundation for a sophisticated research and development infrastructure. One of its significant thrusts is the fostering of international collaborations and the facilitation of knowledge exchange.
Within the framework of MUNIS, the “Research Commercialization Program (RCP)” and “Business Investments in R&D Program (BIRD)” have been conceptualized. Their primary aim is to bolster long-term commercial viability for qualified beneficiaries. This objective will be achieved by generating new and improved employment opportunities, as well as creating marketable products and services. Ideally, these job opportunities should resonate with the commercialization of research outcomes, in addition to the design, manufacturing, and global distribution of high-tech commodities.
The target demographics for RCP and BIRD encompass scientific establishments, academic institutions, research collectives, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that either possess significant in-house R&D potential or have the capability to assimilate hi-tech solutions.
These programs are architected to cultivate successful examples of synergy between industry and science. This collaboration unlocks the potential for generating competitive spin-offs and validates the prospects of technology commercialization within Uzbekistan. As a forward-looking vision, the successful execution of these programs should catalyze the emergence of consistent tax revenue streams, derived from the operational activities of the burgeoning high-tech enterprises/companies in the nation.
