Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  A meeting with representatives of the World Bank was held at the Ministry of Economy and Finance as part of the MUNIS project aimed at modernizing Uzbekistan’s national innovation system. The meeting focused on supporting innovative projects by small and medium-sized businesses.

During the meeting, World Bank representatives shared insights into the mechanisms for selecting business ideas from small and medium enterprises applying for participation in the program. They also discussed the process of project support, explaining how joint financing is provided from the research and development (R&D) stage to commercialization.

The MUNIS project also considered opportunities for supporting innovative projects in regions implemented by small and medium businesses. Furthermore, the implementation of the second phase of the MUNIS project was discussed, including the involvement of the Ministry of Economy and Finance in this process and the preparation of relevant proposals.

The discussions also covered the analysis of the innovation and startup ecosystem in Uzbekistan, the development of digital entrepreneurship, and the evaluation of the current state in these areas. Measures were proposed to study international experience and prepare practical recommendations with the support of international experts and the World Bank.