Section 13. Cooperation in the Field of Scientific Research and Science

50. The Sides wish to examine the promotion of further expansion of scientific contacts between their two countries. There is a great potential on both sides for an increase in research cooperation. The aim of the Sides is to provide more and better-targeted funding, so that it will be possible to publish more calls for tenders of a specific nature and to embed support measures in a clear framework. The potential of and conditions for future beacon projects in research cooperation will be explored.

51. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) currently supports bi- and multilateral R&D projects in the fields of climate action/energy efficiency, climate change mitigation and sustainable land management in the Republic of Uzbekistan through the CLIENT II programme. Further bilateral research projects promoted under other funding announcements already cover a wider range of issues.

52. In the higher education sector, both Sides strive to further promote student exchange and exchange between scientists. German and Uzbek higher education institutions are encouraged to continue or expand on existing cooperation partnerships for academic exchange, research and teaching, and to establish new partnerships.

53. Both Sides will encourage intermediary organisations in education and research to intensify their contacts with their partner organisations with a view to enhancing cooperation.

54. In order to bring even greater continuity to bilateral scientific cooperation, the Sides intend to investigate the possibility of future meetings of a bilateral commission for scientific and technological cooperation.

55. The German Side will accept the invitation to participate again in the leading Uzbek trade fair for innovation, INNOWEEK, in the coming years, in order to demonstrate and publicise the extent of bilateral scientific cooperation and to tap further potential for cooperation.