Six projects from Kyrgyz universities have received grants from the Academic Innovation Fund

In Kyrgyzstan, six projects from four universities have received grant support from the Academic Innovation Fund (AIF). Funding agreements were signed in Bishkek as part of the ‘Quality and Innovation in Higher Education’ (QIHE) project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovation with the support of the World Bank.

Following the first competitive selection round, funding was awarded to projects from the Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn, the Osh Technological University named after M. M. Adyshev, the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov and Adam University. Osh Technical University and Kyrgyz State Technical University will each implement two projects, whilst Kyrgyz National University and Adam University will each implement one.

Thirty-eight state and private higher education institutions took part in the first round of the competition, submitting 196 proposals. Fifty-nine applications progressed to the second stage, and six projects were selected as winners.

The supported initiatives cover a wide range of fields: atmospheric monitoring, green energy, digital technologies, sustainable water management, early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, soil research, and materials science for the textile and light industries.

The largest grant – 17.49 million KGS – was awarded to a project by Osh Technological University to establish a laboratory for green energy and digital technologies. Two further major grants have been awarded to the Kyrgyz State Technical University: 17.44 million KGS to establish a materials science laboratory for the textile and light industries, and 17.31 million KGS to develop the SMART WATER ENERGY mobile irrigation and energy complexes.

Adam University will receive 15.51 million KGS to establish a digital platform and a mobile unit for the early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases among the rural population. Osh Technological University has also been allocated 15.3 million KGS to establish a laboratory for ecological and agrochemical soil research in Southern Kyrgyzstan.

The Kyrgyz National University named after Jusup Balasagyn will receive 8.78 million KGS to establish a system for the long-term monitoring of stratospheric and tropospheric ozone based at the Issyk-Kul Research Station.

The KIVO project is funded by the World Bank through a $25 million loan from the International Development Association. $4 million has been allocated to the component aimed at developing the research capacity of universities through the Academic Innovation Fund. Each university is eligible for a grant of up to $200,000 for a period of up to three years.