Research developments of St Petersburg University enter the Uzbek market
A meeting with Habib Abdullaev, Director of the Navoi Free Economic Zone (the Republic of Uzbekistan), has been held via videoconference. Earlier, an agreement was signed on the establishment of a representative office of St Petersburg University in the Navoi Free Economic Zone (Navoi FEZ).
Opening the meeting, Sergey Andryushin, Deputy Rector for International Affairs of St Petersburg University, said that it is especially important for the University to develop relations with the corporate sector, industrial and high-tech enterprises: ’The companies represented, including those in the Navoi FEZ, offer opportunities both for student internships and for the commercialisation of the University’s research results.’
During the conference, Habib Abdullaev stressed that the most demanded developments for Uzbekistan are those in the field of energy saving with the use of the latest materials, alternative energy sources, purification, and quality control of drinking water. The Ministry of Innovative Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan is ready to allocate grants for the implementation of these projects, as well as for scientific research and design works,’ said Habib Abdullaev, Director of the Navoi Free Economic Zone.
The Navoi Free Economic Zone, the first Free Economic Zone in Uzbekistan, was established in 2008. It is the largest industrial site, with a total area of 645 hectares, a well-developed engineering infrastructure, and convenient logistics. Free Economic Zone residents are granted unprecedented customs and tax privileges, as well as the opportunity to simplify any procedures to the maximum extent possible.
Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research at St Petersburg University, introduced his colleagues to the work of one of the first world-class research centres, ’Agrotechnologies of the Future’, established jointly with six other scientific organisations in 2020. ’At this stage, we are conducting research in the most relevant areas of modern science: chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. Now we are working on 900 active projects, 700 of which are devoted to the natural sciences,’ added Sergey Mikushev. The Vice-Rector also spoke about the University’s scientific developments in the field of photoactive materials and industrial water purification systems.
As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to analyse the developments of St Petersburg University with a view to their further commercialisation in cooperation with the largest enterprises of Uzbekistan. The achievements of researchers from the University can be used in industry in Uzbekistan, where the Navoi Free Econimoc Zone is capable of providing a major contribution both to the economy of their country and to the commercialisation of the University’s scientific research.