Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, Kungratboy Sharipov, held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Estonia to Uzbekistan, Jaap Ora.

During the talks, the two sides held an in-depth discussion on prospects for expanding Uzbek-Estonian cooperation in the fields of higher education, science, and innovation-driven development.

Particular attention was given to fostering exchanges between universities of the two countries, implementing joint educational and research projects, and launching academic mobility programs. One of the central points of discussion was the planned visit to Uzbekistan by a delegation of rectors from leading Estonian universities, which the participants agreed would mark an important step toward strengthening institutional partnerships.

The meeting also explored opportunities for Uzbek universities to participate in education fairs and exhibitions held in Estonia. In this context, both parties emphasized the importance of creating favorable conditions for Estonian students to study in Uzbekistan and for expanding bilateral academic and scientific exchanges.

Ambassador Jaap Ora praised Uzbekistan’s efforts to build a modern startup ecosystem and expressed interest in Estonia’s participation in the international innovation forum InnoWeek. He also highlighted the value of studying Estonia’s startup support model, which has helped the country become a global leader in the number of tech unicorns per capita.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to intensify cooperation and promote joint initiatives in education, scientific research, and innovative entrepreneurship.