Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 28 January 2025, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Kongratbay Sharipov, held a meeting with a delegation led by Stefano Lo Russo, the Mayor of Turin, Italy.

During the meeting, they discussed the further development of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of education, science, and innovation, as well as the implementation of new initiatives.

The meeting was attended by Piergabriele Papadia de Bottini, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Italy to Uzbekistan, Valentina Campana, Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Turin, Daniela Silvi, Director of the International Relations Department of the City of Turin, Stefano Corniati, Rector of the Polytechnic University of Turin, Daro Gallina, President of the Turin Chamber of Commerce, Marco Gaiem, President of the Association of Industrialists, as well as representatives from the aerospace industry, sustainable mobility, mechatronics, and other key sectors.

K. Sharipov spoke about the reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan’s higher education, science, and innovation sectors, and the existing forms of cooperation with Italy, particularly regarding the activities of Italian university branches in Uzbekistan. He proposed initiatives to further develop bilateral relations.

The proposed initiatives included allocating spaces for Uzbek students in the dormitory of the Polytechnic University of Turin, creating an incubator in Tashkent based on this university, and organizing internships for students at Italian companies. Rector Stefano Corniati expressed support for these initiatives.

Mayor Stefano Lo Russo highly praised Uzbekistan’s economic development and emphasized the importance of launching the second phase of cooperation between Tashkent and Turin. He noted the 15-year experience of successful cooperation with the Polytechnic University of Turin. An initiative was also proposed to develop the "Italian-Uzbek Center for Advanced Engineering Education" in Tashkent.

The Italian delegation expressed interest in developing cooperation in areas such as personnel training, entrepreneurship, innovation, joint projects, as well as energy, ecology, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Ambassador Piergabriele Papadia de Bottini highlighted Italy’s readiness to provide comprehensive support in developing cooperation in these fields.