Russia helps Uzbekistan develop university business incubators

University business incubators play an important role in supporting innovative projects at early stages. In Uzbekistan, where approximately 1.3 million students are enrolled, such incubators can become a powerful catalyst for the startup ecosystem, turning innovative ideas into viable companies. However, the lack of structured incubation programs and qualified personnel hinders their ability to effectively fulfill this role.

As part of the "Russian Experts on Demand" program, a Russian expert conducted a preliminary assessment of the needs of educational institutions in developing incubators with the support of UNDP Uzbekistan. The expert also developed a set of training materials and conducted workshops at Tashkent University for staff from various university incubators. Training participants were able to create development roadmaps and a consolidated action plan for inter-university initiatives in entrepreneurship development.

As a result of this work, an online community of 36 representatives from universities was established to collaboratively implement projects aimed at supporting business incubators. The materials presented during the training will provide a solid methodological foundation for creating sustainable startup ecosystems.

Implementing the expert's recommendations on effective incubator management, building collaboration with businesses and investors, and developing a strategy for attracting external funding will enable universities to establish an effective support system for student startup projects.

The work of the Russian expert was implemented with the financial support of the Russian Federation within the framework of the project "Knowledge Management and Capacity Development in the UNDP-Russia Partnership".