Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan

As part of the visit of representatives of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship to Uzbekistan, a meeting was held between the Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Shermatov, and Dina H. Sherif, Executive Director of the Center. The parties discussed prospects for a strategic partnership aimed at developing the country’s startup and DeepTech ecosystem, as well as expanding international scientific and technological cooperation.

A key focus of the negotiations was the potential development of a joint long-term program designed to ensure the systematic advancement of Uzbekistan’s innovation ecosystem and infrastructure.

During the meeting, it was noted that Uzbekistan has already established a solid foundation for its startup ecosystem: more than 750 startups are currently operating in the country, over 147 of which have attracted local and international investment. Uzbekistan has entered the top 100 global startup ecosystems and is now the fastest-growing technology hub in Central Asia.

Special attention was given to the initiative to establish R&D centers in Uzbekistan in priority areas, including artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing, energy technologies, and autonomous systems. The discussion also covered educational programs and workforce development for technology-driven industries, including joint academic and professional initiatives.

Following the meeting, the parties highlighted Uzbekistan’s strong potential in technological entrepreneurship and expressed their readiness for long-term cooperation aimed at integrating the country into the global innovation ecosystem.