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- What is the RCP?
Answer: RCP (Research Commercialization Program) is a sub-component of the Improving research excellance and commercialization, In addition, The RCP is a competitive commercialization matching grant program that will finance several selection rounds of commercialization projects under strict selection and monitoring processes. The total available budget for the RCP matching grant program is 4 million US Dollars. Objectives of the RCP: 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 innovation and demand for it: private sector investment 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. Furthermore, The RCP will (i) finance research commercialization projects on the development of proof-of-concept and small-scale prototyping, and (ii) provide mentorship to projects with commercialization potential.
- Who can apply for a grant?
Answer: Individual, Principal Investigator, citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, can participate in only 1 commercialization project supported by RCP with at least of 50% of time commitment.
- Grant amount to per project?
Answer: up to $150.000
- Project implementation period?
Answer: up to 24 months on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
- Co-financing is mandatory, what is the minimum percentage of the grant amount?
Answer: up to 15% (in cash only)
- Co-financing sources?
Answer: industrial partner, financial partner, or own funds.
- How many people will have a project?
Answer: not more than 7 people (including PI, Co-PI and commercialization specialist)
- Who is Principal Investigator?
Answer: Citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, can participate in only 1 commercialization project supported by RCP with at least of 50% of time commitment.
- Which language is a proposal language?
Answer: English.
- How long the Proposal selection process?
Answer: up to 4 months including submission of proposals (20 w/d), formal compliance (up to 8 w/d), external technological by the International Evaluation Platform (up to 50 w/d), shortlisting of proposals (10 w/d), pitching session and signing protocol of winners by the International Experts Board that lead to the obligatory participation in the acceleration program for winners and signing of a Grant Agreement.
- Tell me some information about the MUNIS?
Answer: The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (MHESI) implements the Modernizing Uzbekistan’s National Innovation System (MUNIS) Project under the Financing Agreement (FA) between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the International Development Association of the World Bank (WB), signed on May 17, 2021. 3.The MUNIS Project’s main goal is to contribute to the development of the National Innovation System (NIS) capable of effectively supporting the market economy. It will promote cooperation between government, scientific organizations, and the private sector in the field of R&D and the commercialization of scientific and innovative products and services.
- From which website applicants will apply to project?
Answer: https://wbgrants.uz/
- What kind of projects will finance RCP?
Answer: The RCP program is expected to support the development and expansion of the private investment community in Uzbekistan and will (i) finance research commercialization projects on the development of proof-of-concept and small-scale prototyping, and (ii) provide mentorship to projects with commercialization potential.
- What are the grants funding criteria?
Answer: Selection is based on two core principles: (i) technological readiness, (ii) commercial potential of the proposal.
Technological criteria
- Research excellence and degree of novelty
- Feasibility of planned activities
- Readiness of the proposed solution
- Assessment of technical and product-scaling risks and mitigations
Commercial criteria
- Market Opportunity for the proposed solution
- Qualification of the team
- Product and Competitive analysis and IP(Intellectual Property)
- Assessment of project budget
- From which industry and/or field proposals are accepted?
Answer: Proposals can be of a multi- or interdisciplinary nature, which cross the boundaries between different fields of research, including pioneering proposals addressing new and emerging fields of research or proposals introducing unconventional, innovative approaches and scientific inventions. The RCP intends to promote broad outreach and participation, encouraging applications related to any field of industry.
- What are the requirements for RCP applicants?
Answer: It should be an Individual, Principal Investigator, citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, can participate in only 1 commercialization project supported by RCP with at least of 50% of time commitment. If the project team size is exceeded, it requires justification and approval of the number by the IEB(International Expert Board). Members of the project team may not be included in more than two proposals. However, a PI can be only in one sub-project, but may hold any other position in another sub-project.The RCP applicant must have a Commercialization Partner (CP) that provides co-financing for the project in the amount of not less than 15% of the grant amount. Detailed requirements for RCP applicants are set out in the 2.3 section (Requirements for RCP applicants).
- How many people can be in the project team?
Answer: The project team must be staffed with no more than 7 people and detailed requirements are set out in the RCP manual in 2.3 section (Requirements for RCP applicants).
- What are the requirements for RCP Grantee?
Answer: The GR must be a newly established startup company created in RUZ in the form of a limited liability company especially for the purpose of the sub-project. The founders of the GR must at least include the PI and the co-financing partner and may include other team members. A majority (more than 50%) of equity of the GR must be directly owned and controlled by one of the following:
1) One or more individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the RUZ;
2) For‐profit business entities (each of which is directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the RUZ);
3) A combination of (1) and (2) above.
Detailed requirements for RCP Grantee are set out in section 2.4 (Requirements for RCP Grantee).
- What are the requirements for the remuneration of staff?
Answer: PI and Co-PI remuneration must not exceed 2000 USD per month, Remuneration of CS shall not exceed 1500 USD per month, Remuneration of other team members shall not exceed 1000 USD per month.
- What kind of expenses are covered for the implementation of a project?
Answer: Staff remuneration, equipment, travel expenses, materials and supplies, IP protection, third-party services, overhead and other expenses. Detailed information about funding is set out in section 2.5 Funding of RCP manual.
- What kind of expenses are not covered by RCP?
Answer: Unallowable expenses that cannot be expensed include:
- Payment of bonuses, vacation pay, benefits, compensation, and financial aid, interest, or debt owed to any third party;
- Tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, weapons and military equipment, gambling, entertainment, amusement;
- Expenses and provisions for possible future losses or debts;
- Expenses that have already been funded by another state program or company/organization;
- Losses in currency exchange, commissions, and fines;
- Memorabilia, including models, gifts, and souvenirs;
- Salary compensation that exceeds the allowable limit as indicated above;
- Commercial and/or medical insurance costs;
- Acquisition of land, real estate, or transportation vehicles;
- Other goods, works, and services not related to project implementation.
- Are there any requirements for equipment?
Answer: Yes, requirements for equipment are set out in the RCP manual in section 2.5 Funding.
- What are the stages of reviewing applications?
Answer: Main stages of grant application review and award:
1) Call for Proposals / Proposals submission
2) Formal compliance
3) Independent evaluation by IEP (International Expert Platform)
4) Pitching session of shortlisted proposals for IEB (International Expert Board)
5) Protocol of winners
6) Acceleration program
7) Grant agreement
- What documents should be submitted?
Answer: A minimum list of required documents:
- an application form completed as per Annex A of this Manual with the attached implementation plan, responsibility matrix of all team members, cost estimate, procurement plan and supporting documents for budget justification;
- Letter of guarantee from co-financing partner per Annex B;
- certificate of registration of co-financing partner;
- letter of intent from PRO or HEI on readiness to transfer existing IP to GR (according to Annex C);
- supporting documents of qualification and scientific (or academic) degree of all team members, starting with the PI, and assembled into one PDF attachment;
- List of publications indexed by Web of Science or Scopus on the project topic (if applicable);
- Existing IP rights that are planned to be used during the implementation of the projects (if applicable).
Additional documents:
- memorandum of cooperation with partners or potential customers assembled in to one PDF file;
- letters of interest in a product/service or technology assembled in to one PDF file;
- other supporting documents assembled in to one PDF file.
- Can any team member of the project submit the proposal?
Answer: No, Proposals must be submitted by eligible PIs. A PI should name a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) who can replace him/her in leading the project in case of unforeseen circumstances.
- In what language the proposal should be written?
Answer: The project proposal must be written and submitted in English. As an option, an Uzbek or Russian version can be also submitted together with the English version.
- What is the process of the evaluation process?
Answer: Evaluation process includes the following stages:
1) Formal compliance, as stipulated in section 3
2) Technological evaluation of proposals
3) Commercial evaluation and Shortlisting of proposals by IEB(International Expert Board)
4) Pitching session to IEB(International Expert Board)
- What is a pitching session?
Answer: In pitching session the short list applicant should present the technological and commercial strategy of the proposal in a 10 min presentation, which is followed by a 10 min Q&A session. Both the presentation and the Q&A session are performed in English.
- When I will receive a notification about the pitching session?
Answer: Applicants will be notified by PIU (Project Implementation Unit) through e-mail or the Project website about the admission or rejection to the pitching session within 2 business days from the date of submission of the shortlist by IEB.
- Is it allowed to participate online in pitching session?
Answer: Yes, the IEB hearing of applicants (pitching) can take place either in person or by videoconference
- When I will receive a decision on my application?
Answer: A list of the awarded proposals will be published on the Project website and communicated to selected applicants with further instructions. All other applicants will receive feedback regarding their proposal status.
- Can I appeal regarding my application decision?
Answer: IEB decisions are final and cannot be challenged. Acceptance of this rule is mandatory to participate in the RCP grants program.
- My application has been approved, what further action should I take?
Answer: Based on the final award decision of the IEB, the project team must participate in a 10-day Acceleration program provided by the TTU (National Office for implementation of Innovations and Technology Transfer Unit) and TA team (Technical Assistance team). Based on the final award decision of the IEB and approval of the MHESI, the PIU concludes Grant Agreements per Annex F with the GR. Prior to the signing the Grant Agreements the winners are requested to create a new legal entity and open a separate bank accounts for grant funds and co-financing money. Co-financing money must be allocated at the bank account of the GR before the first tranche of grant money.
- What kind of reports should I provide during the project?
Answer: Technical reports should be provided by the Grantee twice a year, within 15 days after the 5th month and 15 days after the 11th month of the reporting year. The final technical report needs to be presented within 15 working days from the date of completion of the project. Semi-annual, annual and final technical reports should contain all the relevant technical information on the implementation of the project necessary for an objective evaluation of results. Financial control is conducted per each tranche and is divided into current and final audit.
- Can I get a sample of an application form and other documents?
Answer: The form of application and other documents is presented in RCP manual as Annexes.
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