Tashkent, Uzbekistan – The European Union-funded SECCA project participated in the Women Scientists Forum “SheScience 2025” held on 27 November 2025. This event, hosted by the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan with support from international partners, brought together women scientists, policymakers, donors, and research leaders from Central Asia to strengthen regional cooperation and integration in science, research, and innovation.

The forum served as a platform for dialogue on shared challenges and future-oriented solutions. It focused on critical topics such as elevating women’s leadership in science, overcoming barriers to regional scientific collaboration, promoting the role of green technologies and artificial intelligence for achieving sustainable development, and mapping out financial tools to support regional endeavours.

Panel discussions and interactive working sessions enabled participants to exchange experiences, identify common priorities, and develop practical proposals for strengthening cross-border collaboration.

SECCA’s participation supported the forum’s focus on international research cooperation. SECCA Key Expert Ilze Purina presented on the project’s work in enhancing participation of Central Asian research institutions and universities in the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and highlighted the opportunities offered by the programme. This input complemented the forum’s emphasis on expanding financing tools and strengthening regional and global scientific partnerships.