Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In 2020, the Ministry of Innovative Development allocated 604.6 billion soums from budget funds for the science sector. Of these, 428.2 billion soums (71%) were directed to state programs for scientific activities, 95.2 billion soums (16%) - for supplements for doctoral studies and academic degrees, and the remaining 81.2 billion soums (13%) - for the remuneration of experts, the maintenance of the ministry and the expenses of the subordinate organizations of the ministries.

In accordance with the resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 232 from 16 April 2020 and No. 575 from 21 September 2020, budgetary funds allocated to the Ministry of Innovative Development made up 20.0 billion soums.

Funds allocated to finance fundamental, applied research and innovation projects within the framework of state programs for scientific activities.

The mechanism of state order for scientific research works based on the advanced foreign experience has been introduced. According to the new procedure, a state order is regularly announced for thematic projects with the final product and the amount of funding.

Currently (as of 1 October 2020), the annual funding of state programs for scientific activities is 425.0 billion soums, within the framework of which 1313 projects are being implemented, of which 334 are fundamental projects worth 74.4 billion soums, 845 applied projects for 289.9 billion soums, 81 innovative projects for 41.3 billion soums, 28 target projects for 12.5 billion soums. 25 joint international projects are being implemented (Uzbekistan-Belarus, Uzbekistan-Germany and Uzbekistan-Turkey). In addition, tenders for joint projects with China and India have been announced.

In accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 366 from 8 July 2020, the scientific organizations of the Academy of Sciences, within the framework of state scientific programs, have suspended 80 basic research in the amount of 18.3 billion soums, the released budget funds were directed to their maintenance.

Budgetary funds allocated for awards for doctoral students and academic degrees.

In accordance with the cost estimate prepared by the Ministry of Innovative Development in accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers from 22 May 2017 No. 304, taking into account quotas for admission to doctoral and basic doctoral studies, HEU and research institutes allocated 62.2 billion soums.

At the same time, in accordance with the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 1030 from 24 December 2019, employees working or engaged in scientific and pedagogical activities in all state organizations in the field of education and science are provided with an additional payment from the state budget in the amount of up to 30% for candidates of sciences or doctors philosophy (PhD), up to 60% to doctors of sciences (Doctor of Science).

Examination of scientific projects, as well as work carried out at the expense of budgetary funds allocated to ministries and subordinate organizations of the ministry.

For the examination of scientific projects, the Ministry has created Scientific and Technical Councils of 450 qualified scientists and specialists in 18 disciplines, the composition of which is periodically updated and operates on a voluntary basis. As a result, full participation of the scientific community in project evaluation was ensured.

For the first time, a system for supporting and financing start-up projects has been formed. From the funds allocated to the Fund for Support of Innovative Development and Innovative Ideas, 35 start-up projects were financed for 33 billion soums, new competitive products were launched.

At the same time, 25.0 billion soums were financed from the budgetary funds allocated to the Fund for the construction and installation of the administrative building of the Ministry of Innovative Development.

30 startups took part in the CAT Science startup accelerator, created this year at the Center for Advanced Technologies under the Ministry of Innovative Development, including 21 teams from the city of Tashkent, 8 from the regions of the republic and 1 from the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.

The practice of testing for coronavirus infection at the Center for Advanced Technologies has been successfully mastered. For this purpose, the Center has created a special laboratory for the detection of the SARS-Cov-2 virus, and 500,000 tests are performed monthly.