Swietokrzyskie Innovation System - MATcHES - “Towards the ModernisATion of Higher Education InstitutionS in Uzbekistan”

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MATcHES (2013-2016) is a project financed by the European Commission under the 4th framework of the Tempus Programme. The project aims at modernizing the higher education system in Uzbekistan by boosting the cooperation of the key actors of the Knowledge Triangle (Universities, Business sector and local authorities) for the establishment of long-term partnerships.

MATcHES is built around the concept that universities play a major role in fostering the development of the knowledge society and that this process must involve all relevant stakeholders, including representatives of the business and of public authorities. The project aims at developing three Regional Knowledge Platforms, led by universities and bringing together all relevant actors from regional research and innovation system.

Each platform will define its own strategy and identify a Joint Action Plan to be implemented during the project and afterwards. The platforms will be established following a study phase aiming at identifying needs of regional actors, best practices and nurtured also with the results of a public consultation.

Project objectives

The MATCHES project has different specific objectives:

To create a knowledge basis on the existing knowledge triangle in the UZ regions and on best practices on regional innovation systems
To reinforce the capacities of universities and of other regional actors through training and mobility programs
To develop 3 Regional Knowledge Platforms (REP) for long-term cooperation between Universities, enterprises, local and regional authorities and other stakeholders
To develop 3 Joint Action Plans as strategy and work plan documents of the platforms
To establish 3 Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTO) and support the establishment of 3 Scientific and Technological Parks (STP)
To foster the entrepreneurial spirit of UZ students and researchers
To design and implement dissemination and exploitation strategies

The consortium

In this Consortium there are 13 partners collaborating together: 6 Universities, one Technology Park, 5 Companies and one representative of a national public authority. EU universities will focus their contribution on supporting UZ universities in playing a major role as promoter of this process in their regions. In this sense EU universities will strive to strengthen the capacities of UZ universities and other relevant regional actors through the delivery of a training programme designed accordingly to the specific needs of the 3 Uzbekistan regions involved.

Likewise all EU partners will host professors, researchers and managers from the UZ universities to exchange their experience on the provision of PhD education and in the establishment and running of university-business collaborations at a wider and more specific level, such as the creation of Knowledge transfer offices and Scientific and Technological Parks. Besides, wide support will be provided during the establishment of Regional Knowledge Platforms to UZ partners and the creation of business and innovation support services.

On the other hand, partners from Uzbekistan will play a fundamental role in the creation of the framework of reference and engaging with local and regional stakeholders, other universities and business support organisations in order to obtain their commitment in the creation of the Regional Knowledge Platforms, one per each region involved. UZ universities will be in charge of the establishment of Knowledge Transfer Offices and of initiating the process for the creation of Scientific and Technological Parks.

EU PARTNERS: