The BIRD program is aimed at supporting commercialization projects from Research Organizations, Higher Education Institutions, and SMEs to be submitted by eligible applicants represented by individual researchers. Selection is based on two core principles: (i) technological readiness and (ii) commercial potential of the project. The BIRD program pursues the following objectives: 1) Build and strengthen systemic partnerships between industry, research institutes, and universities for technology development and transfer to address systemic problems in manufacturing sectors. 2) Stimulate SME’s investment activity in R&D and private research organizations of high-quality R&D. 3) Contribute to collective efforts to develop new technologies in areas of national importance. 4) Cooperate with leading international research centers and global businesses. Thematic scope and disciplines. Proposals are expected to be in/related to such areas as (including but not limited to) renewable energy, energy efficiency, low-carbon technologies, biotechnologies, medicine and healthcare, agriculture and food, artificial intelligence, ICT, and other areas of scientific and technological development. Business Investments in R&D Program – has an allocation of US $10 million and will finance matching grants for sub-projects to (i) support later stages of research commercialization, (ii) R&D for SMEs, and (iii) early stages of knowledge-based startups. Grant recipient for BIRD grant funds can be a legal entity created after the grant is awarded in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the form of an LLC or an existing SME company registered in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the form of an LLC. The general requirements for the BIRD program are: Grant amount - up to US $600,000 Co-financing amount (mandatory) - at least 25% of the grant amount in monetary form Implementation period - up to 24 months This call for proposals is open from December 25, 2023 to April 1, 2024 .

The RCP is aimed at supporting technology commercialization sub-projects from Research Organizations and Higher Education Institutions to be submitted and represented by eligible applicants - individual researchers. Selection is based on two core principles: (i) technological readiness and (ii) commercialization potential of the project. By supporting the selection and implementation of research commercialization sub-projects, the RCP pursues the following objectives: 1) Build and strengthen systemic partnerships between industry, research institutes, and universities for technology development and transfer to address systemic problems in manufacturing sectors. 2) Stimulate SME’s investment activity in R&D and private research organizations of high-quality R&D. 3) Contribute to collective efforts to develop new technologies in areas of national importance. 4) Cooperate with leading international research centers and global businesses. Thematic scope and disciplines. Proposals will be aimed at selecting projects in such areas as (including but not limited to) renewable energy, energy efficiency, low-carbon technologies, biotechnologies, medicine and healthcare, agriculture and food, artificial intelligence, ICT, and other areas of scientific and technological development. The Research Commercialization Program has an allocation of US $4 million and will (i) finance research commercialization sub-projects on the development of proof-of-concept and small-scale prototyping, and (ii) provide mentorship to sub-projects with commercialization potential. Grant recipient for RCP grant funds must be a legal entity created after the grant is awarded in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the form of LLC. General requirements for RCP are: Grant amount - up to US $150,000 Co-financing amount (mandatory) - at least 15% from the grant amount in monetary form Implementation period - up to 24 months