iRIF 2024 Tashkent/Almaty

The Interregional Innovation Forum (iRIF) 2024 brought together leading scientists, industry representatives and government officials to share knowledge and discuss the prospects for the development of renewable energy sources and industrial internet technologies (IIoT). The event built on the success of the previous 2022 and 2023 conferences and aimed to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation between Germany, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
 

Program and Main Events

Tashkent (May 22 - 25, 2024)

• May 22 - The first day of the conference included presentations and lectures by invited experts. Visits to the Institute of Scientific Regulation and Standardization and ART Solar (Uzbekistan's first solar cell company) took place.

• May 23 - An excursion to the Jizzakh Free Economic Zone included a visit to the industrial park. There were meetings with the Governor of Jizzakh and visits to the Jizzakh Polytechnic Institute and a solar cell manufacturing company. The day ended with a visit to a glass factory, including a meeting with the CEO and networking opportunities.

• May 24 - The second day of the conference included presentations at Ajou University and a workshop for students on HSA's educational programs. There was also a tour of the Turin Polytechnic Institute laboratory.

• May 25 - Meeting with the Rector of Ajou University followed by a flight to Almaty.

Almaty (May 27 - 31, 2024)

• May 27 - The first day of the conference included presentations at Satbayev University.

• May 28 - The second day of the conference included hybrid workshops for instructors and students on topics such as digital technologies, innovation transfer and best practices in MBA programs. Technical labs at Satbayev University and AUPET were also visited.

• May 29 - Visits to the Institute of Physics and Technology and the Nanoparticle Research Center, including a meeting with the director. This was followed by a tour of Samruk Energy, an energy transmission company.

• May 30 - Visit to the Shelek Wind Farm with a meeting with the director and a guided tour.

• May 31 - Conclusion of the forum with a final summary and night flight to Germany.

Results and achievements

• 8 days of activities: conferences, workshops, visits and meetings.

• Over 100 participants.

• Media coverage: Coverage in 6 different sources, including ministerial newspapers, city TV channels and university press releases.

• Participation of top managers from 3 German companies: Svevind Energy Group, Hanseatic Power Solutions, Kora Industrie.

• More than 10 representatives of local branches of German companies: Schneider Group, Bosch, Knauff, etc.

• Visits to 5 universities: Ajou University, Jizzakh Polytechnic Institute, Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent, Satbayev University, AUPET.

• 6 excursions organized: 2 factories, free trade zones, a wind power plant, a thermal power plant and a physics institute.

• 4 meetings with university rectors, a representative of the German Consulate and the Minister of Higher Education.

• 2 workshops held for students and lecturers
   

Immediate practical benefits of the forum

• 43 students applied for documents and permits at Ajou University International Office immediately after the workshop to apply for HSA Master's programs.

• New contacts and collaborations: Representatives of newly established departments at Satbayev University, especially in the fields of linguistics and software localization, learned about the Idea. East program.

• 6 cooperation agreements signed between companies and universities.

• The forum received wide publicity: HSA was featured on TV and in local newspapers.

• Positive feedback from German experts who expressed their interest in participating in the next forum.

The iRIF 2024 Forum showed great interest in renewable energy and lithium technologies and established strong links between the scientific and industrial communities of Germany, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Through active discussions, workshops and meetings with industry and academic partners, the event laid the foundation for future research projects and business initiatives.

The organizers would like to thank all participants and partners and look forward to further cooperation at future iRIF forums.