INNOVATION SYSTEMS The CAC Region Tugrul Temel International Service for National Agricultural Research Sixth CGIAR-CAC Program Steering Committee Meeting Tashkent, Uzbekistan June 5-7, 2003

ISNAR in the CAC Region AZERBAIJAN: Innovation system for mixed farming - funded by CG Finance Committee GEORGIA: 1) Innovation system for horticulture, viticulture, and winemaking – funded by CG Finance Committee 2) Assessment of information and communication technology use in agricultural research and education – funded by FAO

27 Agricultural Innovation System ICT Infrastructure for Information Flow P R B F I M Pr C X FX PM Information Exchange Network Linkages between any two organizations in the AIS Additional organizations in the AIS Organizations in NARS Information Flow in AIS through Information Exchange Network

Constraints on the System  Lack of content (policy, priorities, application)  Poor human resources (research, research management)  Inadequate ICT infrastructure (hardware, software, skills, connectivity)

AZERBAIJAN Innovation System for Mixed Farming  Conceptual framework developed  Workshop organized in Baku-Azerbaijan for setting priorities of the innovation system for cotton  Concept note prepared proposing an information exchange network for public-private partnership to grow in mixed farming

GEORGIA Innovation System for Horticulture, Viticulture, and Winemaking  Needs assessment performed for the horticulture, viticulture, and winemaking (HVW) research  ICT use in agricultural research assessed  Concept note be prepared for ICT infrastructure development in the HVW research (the WB grant available for this purpose)

A Strategy for Georgia  RESEARCH: Establish an Information Center for HVW research To organize scientific and technical information in an agricultural library with a “virtual”, on-line access component.  UNIVERSITY: Develop computer use and foreign language skills for HVW With support from the Agrarian University and international organizations.  PRIVATE SECTOR: Promote the growth of information platforms for the agro-industry To provide market related information to market intermediaries, processors, farmers etc. These platforms should also facilitate linking agricultural research with its public and private stakeholders. This can be done by setting up a fund for capacity development in agricultural information management for the Industry and NGOs (i.e., Competitive Grants)

Past and Future  Preparatory work completed  Framework developed and published in Peer Reviewed Journals  Concept notes prepared but collaboration with other CG centers desirable  Need for external funding