Anvar Ibragimov International Conference ‘EastLink: the way to knowledge economy’. October 20-21, 2010, Lithuania, Klaipeda Technology Transfer Agency Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION IN UZBEKISTAN: experience and lessons learned

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AGENCY State owned commercial organization founded by former State Committee for Science & Technology of Uzbekistan in 1996 Main line of business is to assist in the industrial application of R&D results and commercial use of intellectual property.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AGENCY Still acting as a ‘bridging’ company, in 2008 TTA was re-registered under the Ministry of Economy of Uzbekistan. The scope of activities today includes: - Development of innovation projects aimed at absorption by industries; -Assessment, adaptation and transfer of novel technologies, including imported ones; -International cooperation in the field of innovation and science&technology; -Drafting proposals for legal support of innovations -Trainings and rising public awareness

Approaches for effective innovation process  Innovations must be mainly oriented to basic industries;  Permanent pre-investment assessment of technologies is crucial;  Technologies in advanced stages of life cycle, adjustable for local industrial capacities must be considered as priority  Technologies must be selected not only from local but from the international sources as well.

Approaches for effective innovation process  The most efficient and suitable ‘vehicle’ for technology transfer from R&D to industry/business is small innovative company created at the research institute or industrial enterprise;  State budget funding of should be targeted straight to the each particular project including SME’s  Government should support innovations by creating favourable conditions for various types of investment, governmental orders for new products/technologies, monitoring projects.

Some projects implemented  Technology of separation of copper-molybdenum concentrate Developed by Uzbek Institute of no-ferrous metals and applied by Almalyk mining-metallurgy combine. Pilot stage was funded by government program and implemented by small company – Science and Technology Center ‘Omega’. This small company also developed two other projects on small-tonnage production of Rhenium and ferro-alloys out of local raw sources.

Some projects implemented  Technology of manufacturing photovoltaic modules and PV systems Pilot fabrication of PV modules by local former military plant ‘Kompozit’ without substantial modification of equipment. Thin film technology was obtained from US- based company Energy Conversion Devices thru’ its Russian JV “Sovlux”. The project was implemented by TTA and Institute of Applied Physics. Sponsored by Science and Technology Center in Ukraine. First 27 PV modules were tested in Russia and Israel and proved high quality. Commercial use of the results was made by newly founded small company ‘Soleco’. Production technology of PV modules and PV systems was then licensed by former military plant ‘Foton’

R&D Commercialization  Pilot project with local institutes on manufacturing biogas equipment. Now farmers in rural areas order various capacity equipment  License agreement with US company ‘Enviromation’. 3-5 kW Solar driven Stirling engines with Uzbek know-how will be produced in the USA.  Technology for Production of monosilane. Uzbek-Korean joint development and Licensing.  Cotton seeds polymer capsulation technology. Ordered by Cotton plant manufacturers

UNDP project ‘Support to Innovation Policy and Technology Transfer’ Today TTA is implementing UNDP project which provides support to the Government of Uzbekistan in its innovation- related initiatives by concentrating on three major areas: 1)Innovation policy formulation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation; 2)Strengthening the capacities of technology transfer offices; 3)Support to further development of financial and non-financial instruments to stimulate technology transfer and commercialization.

 Creation of electronic database of innovation projects and Internet portal integrating all information resources related with various aspects of innovation activities.  Capacity building by enhancing qualification of specialists involved in innovation and technology transfer process. Both components will help in building country-wide network supporting innovations in Uzbekistan. This network is considered to be open for international community. TTA’s main areas of responsibility within the UNDP project

 Lack of clear incentives stimulating industries and SME’s to innovate  Poor motivation of private investors.  Traditional resistance of industries;  Poor technical production level;  Lack of qualified personnel;  High monopolization level and inefficient antimonopoly policy;  Relatively low cost of manpower and natural resources;  Extremely high role of Government regulation. Needs to act in-time and adequately Main barriers hindering innovation activeness

Thank you! Technology Transfer Agency Tashkent, Uzbekistan