In 2018, the President adopted an important document aimed at unifying the efforts of state management and executive bodies and organizations in innovative development - the decree "On approval of the innovative development strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2019-2021". This decree approved the innovative development strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2019-2021. The main goal of the strategy was to develop human capital. Also, one of the main tasks was to make the Republic of Uzbekistan one of the 50 most advanced countries of the world in the Global Innovation Index by 2030.
As a result of the reforms carried out in the republic in recent years in the field of innovative activities, Uzbekistan was re-entered the international ranking of the Global Innovation Index in 2020, after a five-year break, with an increase of 29 places compared to 2015.
Currently, the innovative development strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2022-2030 has been developed by the Ministry of Innovative Development and is currently being discussed with relevant organizations and institutions. This strategy is a logical continuation of the consistent reforms that have been carried out so far in order for the Republic of Uzbekistan to take a place among the first 50 developed countries in the Global Innovation Index by 2030.
So, what fundamental works have been carried out in the field of science and innovation in the country in the past short period?
First of all, in connection with the introduction of the procedure for the introduction of additional remuneration for professors with a doctorate degree in higher education and research institutions, the basic salary of professors with a doctorate degree is 3.2 times compared to 2016, and employees with a scientific degree engaged in scientific, pedagogical and labor activities salary increased 5 times.
3 important documents defining the legal basis for further development of science and innovative activity and strengthening of the scientific potential of personnel - Laws "On Science and Scientific Activity", "On Innovative Activity" and "On Education" were adopted.
Currently, a state order mechanism for scientific and research works has been introduced in our country based on advanced foreign experiences. As a new procedure, state orders for thematic projects with clear final product and financing volume are regularly announced. As a result, a competitive environment was formed, and the opportunity to receive permanent grant funds was created. Compared to 2017, the financing of one project increased by 3.5 times, and at least 40% of the funds were directed to the purchase of necessary equipment, reagents and materials for scientific research activities.
A start-up ecosystem covering all stages from idea to consumer has been launched in the country to support large-scale scientific start-up projects. For the first time, a system of support and financing of start-up projects was created at the expense of state grants, the total cost of which is 40.5 billion. 48 start-up projects worth soums were financed and production of competitive new products was organized.
Technology transfer has been put into practice for the rapid introduction of scientific new technologies into the country's economy. Based on the transfer of advanced technologies abroad, the total cost is 3.3 mln. Investment projects worth US dollars were implemented.
In 2018-2020, 18 scientific organizations, 10 scientific centers and 4 technological parks were established. A new system of commercialization of scientific developments was launched with the participation of the trio "Scientist-Bank-Entrepreneur" based on interest in the commercialization of scientific developments. Within the framework of commercialization of scientific developments, the total cost is 149.5 billion. projects amounting to 62 billion soums have been prepared and the volume of scientific products produced exceeded soums.
A simplified procedure for purchasing scientific laboratory equipment was introduced. From 2018 to now, 69 laboratory equipments were installed in 9 research institutions, and more than 200 laboratory equipments were purchased for 15 research institutions in 2020 according to the new simplified procurement procedure. 30.4 million for the purchase of modern laboratory equipment for research institutions. US dollars and 116 billion for the repair of buildings and structures. soum was allocated. In addition, the purchase of reagents and reagents by budgetary organizations carrying out scientific activities was included in the list of goods purchased by state customers on the basis of direct contracts.
In order to support the initiatives of talented young people and develop their scientific potential, the Youth Academy was established under the Ministry of Innovative Development. Currently, this academy is the bar of the republic More than 2,000 young people have become members, with 15 leaders in the regions.
In 2020, in order to support the practical and innovative projects of young scientists, the Youth Academy will allocate 30.2 billion. the competition of practical and innovative projects worth soums was announced.
In April 2021, based on the needs of the real sector of the economy and the social sphere, in order to increase the effectiveness of the commercialization of the results of scientific activity, as well as to facilitate the transfer and localization of foreign technologies, a national office of the introduction of innovations and technology transfer was established under the Ministry of Innovative Development.
In order to further accelerate innovative activity in the regions, to formulate proposals for scientific and technical solutions to existing socio-economic problems, to ensure the commercialization of regional scientific and research projects, to fully organize a system of supporting the ideas and initiatives of the population, especially young people, in a "local" way, the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the regions innovative development departments were established.
According to world experience, the innovation ecosystem consists of interrelated "disruptive", "sustainable" and "efficient" innovations. "Radically innovative" innovations consist in the creation of products or services that have completely different characteristics and capabilities from traditional ones, and in most cases require large amounts of money. However, it is important because it creates many new jobs. "Sustainable" (sustainable) innovation is to ensure the stability and regular improvement of "radically innovative" innovations in the rapidly changing consumer market, does not create new jobs and does not require large funds ("radically innovative" stabilizes the market and its customer, and ensures its attractiveness ).
In Uzbekistan, there is no integrated system that incorporates the cycle of "innovation-capital-innovation" and the cycle of "innovation-capital-innovation" in order to create the cyclical relations of "radically innovative" - "sustainable" - "effective" innovations (i.e. innovations) and its main processes remain in a very fragmented form. is going One of the urgent tasks before 2030 is to explain the essence of such a cyclical innovation ecosystem to the subjects of the innovation ecosystem, to create legal and financial conditions for training, to operate, and to define the tasks and obligations of each link.
The number of young people under 30 in our country is more than 18 million. This is about 55 percent of the population. It is also true that official unemployment among 18-30-year-olds is 17 percent. By the end of 2021 alone, the demand for new jobs among young people will increase by 1,350,000. The dynamics of the population included in the registers of "iron", "women", and "youth" based on the list of people in need of employment in the country is preserved.
Consistent reforms aimed at ensuring the employment of the population, especially young people and women, are continuously being carried out in the republic. In particular, 2021 was declared the "Year of Youth Support and Public Health Promotion". New systems for working with young people are being introduced, and the proposals of boys and girls are being studied in a "local" way. In all regions of the country, it is being organized to support youth entrepreneurship and ensure their employment through vocational training.
Today, the development of the republic's territories is carried out due to the extensive use of natural resources. The increasing risk of depletion of available natural resources creates the need to establish industrial clusters that embody the best practices of the world's leading countries in increasing the share of scientific volume (innovative) products in the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
According to world experience, clustering has covered about 50% of the economies of leading countries. In the USA, more than 55% of enterprises operate within clusters. The share of clusters in GDP will increase from 65%. There are more than 2,000 clusters in European countries, and these clusters, on the one hand, achieve effective innovative activities by uniting innovative enterprises, and on the other hand, provide 38% of population employment by creating new jobs.
The analysis shows that in order to create a system of clustering in Uzbekistan, the development of cluster and cluster policy and the establishment of state management in ensuring its integration into the world economy, the creation of its regulatory and legal framework, concepts in the field It is necessary to carry out the necessary work, such as developing a unified concept and compliance criteria, forming a registration register of clusters, ensuring their close cooperation (integration) with research and higher education institutions, and training highly qualified specialists in the field.
At the same time, it is a requirement of the times to fulfill the task of forming mechanisms to return a certain part of the value created from innovation to the creation of new products and jobs in a periodic and continuous manner. This is because any new product and job-creating "ground-breaking" innovation requires constant investment.
In this regard, although the funds allocated to the state budget and targeted innovation funds are the main factor providing capital for "radically innovative" innovations, the owners of effective innovations and interested organizations, including network and cluster enterprises and commercial banks (other enterprises) need a certain amount of capital created from innovations. part of them should be continuously returned to "radically renewing" innovations on the basis of mechanisms based on mutual interest.
According to world experience, a part of the capital created by coal and mining enterprises in the United States of America, Europe, Canada and member states of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) should be constantly directed to scientific research and experimental design "radically renewing" innovations in the country, innovative various tax benefits have been introduced for activities. Starting from 2018, after the reforms in the USA, such practices were introduced and strengthened in a number of countries such as Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, and Poland.
The development of the national infrastructure that is flexible to market requirements, the scientific potential of the country, the effectiveness of research and development activities and their level of commercialization, and the continuity of the entire supply chain from primary raw material products to the consumer in the production and service sectors are necessary for the Republic of Uzbekistan to become one of the 50 advanced countries with innovative development by 2030. provision is required. In increasing the country's export potential, the number of enterprises with international quality certificates is not at a satisfactory level, the need for new jobs is extremely high, and the need to reduce poverty among the population, to ensure the employment of the growing youth and unemployed women, as mentioned above, to develop a new and stable innovation ecosystem in Uzbekistan. shows the need for more consistent reforms in the science, technology and innovation system.
Further development of human capital in the management of innovative activities through the development of creativity, innovative entrepreneurship and rationalization skills at all stages of education was defined as the main tasks of the strategy in achieving the main goal. Also, special attention will be paid to the development of the support infrastructure for start-up initiatives by establishing networks of innovative infrastructure entities (technology parks, start-up accelerators, incubators and technology transfer offices). Stimulating the demand for innovations by providing a complex system of creating new types of products and innovative technologies from the idea to the final consumer, increasing the share of innovative active enterprises by improving the institutional mechanisms of state support for innovative activities are also among the tasks of the strategy.
In addition to the development of human capital, the development of infrastructure for the support of startup initiatives is also carried out by establishing networks of innovative infrastructure entities (technology parks, startup accelerators, incubators and technology transfer offices).
Acceleration, logistics and financing services will be provided to promising innovative projects and start-up initiatives by widening the activities of innovation introduction and technology transfer centers. In turn, technology licensing centers help establish close cooperation between research institutes, universities and industry, prepare license agreements for the sale of intellectual property, and search for a market for technology consumers.
Creation of modern financing mechanisms for start-up initiatives and projects such as venture, crowdfunding, expansion of simplified financing activities based on a competitive environment such as "Future scientist", "Hackathon" contests, "Technoways" marathons will ensure the introduction of new services and products to the market. Regional innovation centers and technology parks are qualified a unified management system for innovation centers will be established.
Formation of entrepreneurial environment and activities in higher education institutions, as well as technological transfer of scientific research results, are encouraged through the establishment of academic "spin-off" companies. Effective penetration of national brand products and services, including digital software products, into world markets is ensured.
Increasing the interest of the private sector in development and research and strengthening cooperation with scientific research institutions, encouraging the participation and financing (co-finance) of the private sector in innovative activities, including special support measures for enterprises engaged in private development and research or financing activities the first steps are being taken.
Also, there is a need to hold educational events about the importance of protecting intellectual property objects among scientists, entrepreneurs, and young people. Measures to strengthen the regulation of illegal use of intellectual property objects and increase responsibility are developed and implemented in this area.
Another important area is to increase the innovative activity of small businesses. In turn, the commercialization of local scientific, rationalization and start-up developments will be expanded by introducing effective mechanisms aimed at establishing close cooperation of regional higher education and research institutions with local institutions in the continuous support of small innovative production activities of the population.
In 2022-2025, it is required to form a ready-made portfolio of "1000 innovative projects" and gradually implement it in order to organize a small innovative production. Also, by transferring successful small innovative production enterprises to other geographical regions of the republic, regional programs of innovative development will be developed taking into account the economic specialization, scientific and technical potential and available resources of the regions.
Activities such as identifying and encouraging regional talents and attracting them to the system of central higher education institutions, Youth Academy and Academy of Sciences through the "Academic Mobility" and "Future Scientist" programs to form new generation science teams and schools must be done.
When the time comes, it is permissible to mention achievements and successes in this regard. For example, the work of transforming Urgut of Samarkand region, Oltinsoy of Surkhandarya region, Chust of Namangan region and Marhamat of Andijan region into innovative landfills was met with great interest by entrepreneurs and residents. The initiative of the President of the country to implement development projects based on the specific characteristics of each region has fully justified itself.
It is planned to implement several measures to create capital through the development of the network of innovative clusters. For example, taking into account the achievements of advanced foreign countries, a unified concept and law of "cluster" and "cluster policy" will be developed in our country. Creation of innovative clusters or large enterprises based on the mechanism of mutually beneficial "pinocytosis" of startups and small innovative enterprises, modernization of existing ones leads to the expansion of the market of innovative and high-tech products.
Based on world experience, it is envisaged to direct the mandatory allocations of one percent of the taxable profit of economic societies with a state share of 50 percent or more in the charter fund, as well as state enterprises, to the creation and introduction of "radically innovative" innovations. A system of voluntary allocation of up to one percent of the value of the sold products every quarter to scientific activities and "radically innovative" innovations will be established for other enterprises and organizations, regardless of the form of ownership.
These are the plans and goals intended to be implemented in a historically short period of time. Of course, such changes will give a positive impetus to a number of industries that have been lagging behind the introduction of modern innovations for many years, living with yesterday's principles and concepts in a very wide range of industries, from property relations to production and service. As a result, an innovative active and enterprising society with a culture of investing in "radically innovative" innovations aimed at the solution of its needs and problems will be formed.
Ibrahim ABDURAHMANOV,
Innovative
