Tashkent, Uzbekistan – Representatives of the government bodies, universities, research institutions, and innovation agencies attended the workshop “Unlocking European Union – Central Asia Research Cooperation under Horizon Europe”. This event was held as part of the European Union – Uzbekistan Sustainable Energy Days 2024 and was organised by the European Union (EU) funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship programme for research and innovation. It is one of the largest research and innovation funding programme in the world, covering the period from 2021 to 2027 with a total budget of EUR 95.5 billion. The programme provides funding for projects in the EU Member States and third countries, including Central Asian Republics. Total 33 projects and 47 organisations in Central Asia have already benefited from participation in Horizon Europe and its predecessor Horizon 2020.
The workshop specifically demonstrated the relevance of Horizon Europe’s Cluster 5 – “Climate, Energy, and Mobility” – to participants in Uzbekistan by showcasing funding opportunities, projects and initiatives financed by the programme. Activities within Cluster 5 Work Programme support research and innovations related to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and thus facilitate green transition, provide for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and foster a clean energy system, as well as efficient, sustainable and inclusive access to energy.
Addressing the participants, Mr Alexander Zenebe, Programme Manager of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, stated: “One of the key advantages of Horizon Europe is its comprehensive approach, fostering collaborations across various sectors and disciplines. The Programme provides opportunities to Uzbekistani scientists, higher education institutions, research institutes to attract international funding, and also to facilitate international networking and access to new markets, addressing global challenges such as climate change, green transition and digital transformation. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that Uzbekistan prioritises the rapid development of a green economy and has set a grand goal of achieving 40% green energy by 2030. The EU welcomes Uzbekistan’s commitments to be part of the global energy transition. We foster the country’s energy resilience through sharing our best available technologies and expertise in renewables and energy efficiency, as well as through the opportunities provided by Horizon Europe to facilitate the green transition.”
Uzbekistan has significant research capacity. Featuring the EU, Energy Community and national speakers from Central Asia, the event highlighted how Horizon Europe can assist in strengthening international research collaboration, particularly in areas such as sustainable energy. The EU-funded SECCA project assists Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, with creating conditions and building capacity for more active participation in Horizon Europe by providing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and cross-border knowledge-sharing.
Background:
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
The European Union – Uzbekistan Sustainable Energy Days is part of the broader European Union – Central Asia Sustainable Energy Days campaign. Its purpose is to enhance the awareness of national stakeholders and the public in the region of Central Asia on the significance, benefits and accessibility of sustainable energy and the interlinkage between energy and climate change. It also represents a global edition of EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the largest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe, initiated in 2007 by the European Commission. The campaign is organised yearly in the countries of Central Asia by the EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)”.
The EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” (from March 2022 to March 2026) aims to promote a sustainable energy mix in the Central Asia region in line with EU best practices. To fulfil its mission, SECCA strives to provide for strengthened and more inclusive policy, regulatory and institutional framework for the transition to a sustainable energy system, within a regional context, and focuses on contributing to the fulfilment of international human rights commitments in CA countries, including equal access to energy, and supporting gender inclusive policies and legislation for energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE). The project activities include capacity development for EE and RE deployment, awareness raising on EE and RE, and improving investment climate for EE and RE projects.
For additional information, please contact Mrs Yelena Serebrennikova, Senior Strategic Communication Expert, SECCA, email: media@secca.eu, WhatsApp: +77019814020, Mrs Nurgul Smagulova-Dulic, Digital Communication and Media Relations Expert, SECCA, email: nurgul.smagulova@secca.eu, WhatsApp: +77012066760, or the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, email: delegation-uzbekistan@eeas.europa.eu.
