International Innovation and Investment Forum starts its work within “InnoWeek”

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 23 October, the International Innovation and Investment Forum started as part of a week of innovative ideas - INNOWEEK at the National Exhibition Center with the active participation of foreign scientific and innovation centers, investment funds, technology agencies, technology parks and business incubators. The organizer is the Ministry of Innovation Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sukhrob Holmuradov, Minister of Innovation Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Helena Freizer and other officials participated in the event.

The forum was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sukhrob Holmuradov. In his welcoming speech, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, he welcomed the guests and participants and expressed sincere respect to all the participants and guests of today’s event.

Sukhrob Holmuradov dwelled on the goals of the innovation week and the forum itself: “The Innovative Innovation Week - InnoWeek, held this year, initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, is a full-fledged event dedicated to the goals of 2018 -“ Year of support for active entrepreneurship, innovative ideas and technologies. During this week, our country will become a center for the demonstration of innovative ideas and developments. In particular, such important events as the International Innovation Fair, the International Innovation and Investment Forum and the International Youth Championship in the Field of Robotics are planned as part of the InnoWeek Innovation Week. The Innovative Ideas Week being held within the framework of the implementation of the “State Program for Implementing an Action Strategy for the Five Priority Development Areas of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017–2021,” approved by the Republic’s leadership, will be an important step towards the development and integration of science, production and entrepreneurship in our country. ”

Minister of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov in his speech focused on the activities of the Ministry of Innovative Development and noted that “during the preparation for the event, the ministry studied the experience of countries with innovative development. The Ministry of Innovation Development is trying to bring to the main consumers the latest innovative technologies to leading scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors. Representatives of 53 well-known international organizations and companies, leading experts in the field of science and innovation from more than 30 countries of the world participate in this International Innovation and Investment Forum. During the forum, 7 agreements and 21 memorandums between interested organizations, the Ministry and its subordinate institutions will be signed. It is worth noting that the essence of the innovation exhibition in the framework of the Innovative Week “InnoWeek” is the commercialization of scientific developments that contribute to the development of the economy at a rapid pace. At previous scientific exhibitions held in our country, scientists and scientific institutes presented scientific developments that were not introduced in the economic sector, but remained only on paper. It should be noted that these scientific developments were not of interest to the economy, and sometimes even were a tautology. At today’s fair, we present not only innovative developments introduced in the economy of our country, but also advanced technologies of developed countries, the latest discoveries and innovative ideas. Let this event inspire our young scientists and researchers, and our esteemed researchers and mentors direct them to the right path - the path of innovative development! ”

- Our Forum requires a dialogue not only on innovations, but also on investments. Since it is impossible to imagine innovation without investment and vice versa. At the initiative of the ministry, investments in the amount of US$20.6 million were attracted to strengthen the material and technical base of 2 research institutes of the Academy of Sciences - Institute of Oriental Studies named after Abu Rayhon Beruni and Khorezm Academy of Mamun, US$47,400 for advanced training, internships, participation in conferences of 27 professors, teachers and doctoral candidates and 5.5 million US dollars for the organization of training of foreign citizens-students. In addition, to date, more than 14.7 million US dollars have been attracted for 67 domestic higher education institutions. The 9 investment projects to be implemented by the Ministry of Innovation Development in 2019 will be financed by foreign and local investors. Of these, 6 projects identified sources and volumes, the total value of which amounted to US$335.7 million. We hope that the forum will bring new impetus to our common work. And we look forward to various views, thoughts and innovative ideas from the International Innovation and Investment Forum. We believe that the forum participants will demonstrate innovative sustainable directions that will ensure the prosperity of the future of our people and country, the Minister of Innovative Development concluded his speech.