President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed a suite of new proposals aimed at revolutionizing higher education, science, and innovation.
At the heart of these reforms is the "U10 – Leading Global Universities of Uzbekistan" program. Under this initiative, ten selected higher education institutions will be elevated to the status of National Research Universities, serving as hubs for new scientific clusters. To jumpstart this transformation, the Fund for Financing Science and Innovation Support will allocate up to 150 billion soums to each designated university.
The funding model for research is also evolving. At least 50% of state scientific programming funds will now be earmarked for high-priority strategic sectors. To ensure quality, projects will undergo a selection process involving international peer reviews, scientific-technical councils, and direct collaboration with industry leaders.
To bridge the gap between theory and the marketplace, a new system for commercializing scientific breakthroughs was introduced. This includes the creation of university "spin-off" companies, completing the "industry–enterprise–university–research center" chain to bring innovative products and services to life.
With the ambition of transforming Uzbekistan into a regional educational hub, the government is rolling out the "New Uzbekistan Scholarship." This program will grant up to 500 gifted international students the opportunity to study at state universities annually.
The presentation concluded with a focus on enhancing management efficiency, integrating Artificial Intelligence into digital education, and empowering the innovative initiatives of the youth.
