Round Table III in Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

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On 26-27 February 2018, Tashkent State University of Economics hosted the National Round Table III and conference on Innovative Ideas and Proactive Entrepreneurship under the framework of Erasmus + MIND (Management-Innovation-Development) project.

On the first day of the event, a conference on Innovative Ideas and Proactive Entrepreneurship was organized which gathered relevant stakeholders to share their experiences in the field and develop recommendations on further betterment of the project results.

For the opening of the conference, Dr. Obidjon Khamidov (vice rector of TSUE) took speech and conveyed rector’s greeting to participants, Mr. Farrukh Sulaymonov (representative of Ministry of HEI) made a speech on Recent developments in education system in Uzbekistan and role of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the formation of Educational Curriculum, National Erasmus+ Office representative highlighted the latest developments of Erasmus+ in Uzbekistan,  Mr. Usmon Rahimjanov, Representative of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Republic of Uzbekistan made an interesting presentation on “Services offered to young entrepreneurs and Start-ups”. He explained the current state of Start-ups and young entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan. Moreover, Prof. Eva Jankovichová from Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STUBA) and Prof. Agostino Massa from University of Genoa (UNIGE) shared the experience of their universities with all the attendants.

 A second part of the plenary session followed by the presentation of Mr. Husniddin Madumarov, Head of Department of Foreign Economic Activity, JSCB “Microcreditbank”, the presentation on Financial and Organizational Supporting for young entrepreneurs by MicrocreditBank was full of discussions, MicrocreditBank offered credits to all the participants of start-up contest at the current stage of their projects without any guarantee on return. Interventions of more invited entrepreneurs of different sectors followed, as Yasmina-Tour company, “Style step” shoes production company, and “Uzbek Leasing International” JSC.

In order to round off the day, students from the three Uzbek universities of the project (Samarkand Institute of Agriculture, Bukhara State University, Tashkent State University of Economics) presented their business ideas.

Evaluation Committee consisted of 5 professionals including prof. Eva Jankovichová from STUBA, prof. Agostino Massa and Lara Piccardo from UNIGE, Mr. Usmon Rahimjanov from Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Husniddin Madumarov from MicrocreditBank, who evaluated on different criterias and gave feedback and recommendations on the development of student start-up ideas.

Based on the evaluations by experts, 1st place granted to TSUE students, Omontoshev Jakhongir, Fuzailov Oybek, for the idea of «Union bank” and SamIA student A. Nurullayev for the idea of “Blister packaging of natural products”, additional nomination was suggested by Chamber of commerce expert and confirmed by the other experts for the idea of A solar energy-based mobile fruit and vegetable warehouse system by Nabiyeva Nilufar, student of TSUE.

On February 27, the second day of the Round Table, the partners and interested visitors received special master class on Support to Innovation & Technology Transfer and Spin-off at UNIGE by the professors Lara Piccardo and Agostino Massa, participants actively involved in discussion, debating number of questions on Spin-off support, Technology transfer unit organization, cooperation between researchers and industry, entrepreneurship and etc.

In the afternoon, MIND delegation participated in a Republican exhibition on “Innovation technologies and ideas” organized at TSUE.

By end of the National Round Table III, it was agreed that participants of best innovative business idea, start-up contest will be supported by universities and MIND project for their further development and realization.