In a significant stride towards fostering international collaboration in the realms of innovation and technology, Uzbek startups are poised to make their mark in the Iranian market. This development comes on the heels of the first meeting of the cooperation group between Iran and Uzbekistan, held on October 19, as part of the international week of innovative ideas, "InnoWeek-2023."
The meeting, co-chaired by Iranian Vice President for Science and Technology, Ruhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi, and the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, culminated in a series of groundbreaking agreements aimed at propelling the fields of science and innovation in both nations.
One of the pivotal agreements reached during the visit of the Iranian delegation was to foster direct collaboration between knowledge-intensive companies in Iran and Uzbekistan. Uzbek startups are now set to gain entry into the Iranian market, heralding new opportunities for both nations. Moreover, joint startup projects are set to receive ongoing support, with plans for the second stage of the competition for joint Uzbek-Iranian startup projects already in motion.
Vice President of Iran, Ruhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi, expressed optimism about the burgeoning partnership.
"The work we have done in the field of technology transfer is now showing its results. I believe that the work to develop cooperation between Iran and Uzbekistan - our joint startup projects, environmental projects - will contribute to the development of the two countries in the future," Ruhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi stated.
Another significant aspect of this cooperation involves addressing environmental challenges in the Aral Bay region and promoting environmental innovation in the area. Uzbek experts are set to draw upon the Iranian experience in mitigating the consequences of Lake Urmia's drying in Iran. The exchange of Iranian experts visiting Uzbekistan is part of this knowledge-sharing endeavor.
Furthermore, the meeting underscored the importance of facilitating exchanges of young scientists between the two countries, including internships in leading scientific institutions and high-tech manufacturing enterprises in Iran for young scientists from Uzbekistan.
The collaboration in the field of education will also see universities in both nations establish direct ties. In 2024, a forum of rectors from Uzbekistan and Iran is slated to take place to further advance this academic collaboration.
"In subsequent years, a number of events are being carried out to expand cooperation between the two countries. In particular, Iranian businessmen who took part in InnoWeek.uz last year are now successfully working in our country. In the Inno technology park under the ministry, five Iranian companies have launched production," Minister Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov remarked.
It was emphasized that cooperation between universities in the domain of innovation was initiated with the establishment of the Uzbek-Iranian Technology Park at Samarkand State University. Both parties have agreed to jointly fund this project, with a commitment to expeditiously develop the technology park.
Concluding the productive meeting, a report of the cooperation group between Iran and Uzbekistan in the field of innovation and technology was officially signed. This document encapsulates the essence of the agreements reached during the meeting, underscoring the commitment of both nations to progress in science and technology. Additionally, an agreement was reached to draft and sign a bilateral "Road Map" in the near future, outlining specific mechanisms and responsibilities for the implementation of the agreements forged during this momentous gathering.
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