Uzbek startups will enter the Iranian market

On October 19, as part of the international week of innovative ideas “InnoWeek-2023”, the first meeting of the cooperation group between Iran and Uzbekistan in the field of innovation and technology was held.

The meeting was co-chaired by Iranian Vice President for Science and Technology Ruhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi and Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ibrohim Abdurakhmonov.

As a result of bilateral negotiations during this visit of the Iranian delegation, a number of agreements were reached in order to develop the field of science and innovation.

In particular, the parties agreed to support direct cooperation between knowledge-intensive companies of the two parties. Uzbek startups will now enter the Iranian market. Support for joint startup projects will also be continued and the 2nd stage of the competition for joint Uzbek-Iranian startup projects will be held.

“The work we have done in the field of technology transfer is now showing its results,” said Vice President of Iran Ruhollah Dehghani Firuzabadi. - 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.

An important aspect of today's event was the achievement of cooperation in improving the environmental situation in the Aral Bay region and further increasing environmental innovation in the region. Uzbek scientists, ecologists and researchers are studying the Iranian experience in combating the consequences of the drying up of Lake Urmia in Iran. For this purpose, visits of Iranian experts to our country will be organized.

In addition, the parties emphasized the exchange of young scientists from the two countries, including the creation of conditions for young scientists from Uzbekistan to continue internship programs in leading scientific institutions and high-tech manufacturing enterprises in Iran.

Particular attention was paid to expanding direct ties between universities of the two countries. In order to organize and develop this area of ​​cooperation, it was decided to organize a forum of rectors of Uzbekistan and Iran in 2024. The Iranian side expressed its readiness to hold the first forum.

“In subsequent years, a number of events are being carried out to expand cooperation between the two countries,” said Minister I. Abdurakhmonov. “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, 5 Iranian companies have launched production.

It was noted that cooperation between universities in the field of innovation began with the creation of the Uzbek-Iranian Technology Park at Samarkand State University. An agreement was reached on joint financing by the parties of this project. It was agreed that the Uzbek side will jointly develop a project for the creation of this technology park in a short time.

Following the meeting, a report of the cooperation group between Iran and Uzbekistan in the field of innovation and technology was signed. The document reflects the content of the agreements within the framework of the meeting. An agreement was also reached on the development and signing in the near future of a bilateral “Road Map”, which defines specific mechanisms and responsibility for the implementation of the agreements reached.