UNDP Uzbekistan held a workshop aimed to improve the negotiation skills of the participants of the Annual Innovation Fair presenting their innovation projects. The workshop gathered more than a hundred representatives of research institutions and universities of Uzbekistan in the conference hall of the Institute of Forecasting and Macroeconomic Research.

The event was organized within the framework of the joint project of UNDP and the Ministry of Economy entitled "Strengthening the national capacities for technology transfer". The project envisages the implementation of three major activities: assessment and preliminary technical assistance with regard to the capacities of the Agency for Transfer of Technology, support in conducting the next Annual Innovation Fair, and the preparation of a Concept Note that will expectedly lay the ground for further assistance to the government of Uzbekistan in the area of innovation development, reported UNDP in Uzbekistan.

Last year''s Innovation Fair revealed that most of the research institutes that were presenting their innovation projects lacked expertise in negotiating the terms and preparing contracts with the businesses. Indeed, contracts on technology transfer differ in many ways from ordinary business contracts.

Two international consultants - Mr. Victor Zakharian and Ms. Katy Lawrence - were invited to facilitate the workshop and to discuss the issues that the participants encounter at the stage of transferring their technology and innovation projects to businesses. In addition to that, the workshop participants learned the experience of the Tashkent State Technological University at commercializing technological know-how generated by the university: the pro-rector of the university Ms. Karima Norkulova presented her report entitled "The integration of science, education and industry: current status and prospects". The participants used the opportunity to ask questions and exchange views on the wide range of related issues, including the intellectual property rights and patents, format of advertising materials to be prepared for the Innovation Fair, the work of the Agency for Transfer of Technology, problems with commercialization of R&D results, and so forth.