Historical milestone: the Hungarian-Uzbek INNO Science Park opened in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan's first science and innovation park
On March 6, 2026, the INNO Science Park, established in Uzbek-Hungarian cooperation in the city of Jizzakh, Uzbekistan, was solemnly opened, marking a historic milestone in the international innovation strategy of Óbuda University. The large-scale initiative not only marks a new era in scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries, but also indicates that Óbuda University's innovation model has now become a dominant player on an international level.
The innovation park aims to serve as a research and development center and support the cooperation of startups, technology companies, and university research groups. Óbuda University plays a decisive role in the initiative, contributing its knowledge base and international network to the operation of the park, clearly shaping and defining the innovation development of the country of Uzbekistan. The establishment of the INNO Science Park is the result of several years of professional planning and cooperation, during which Hungarian and Uzbek higher education institutions, research centers and industrial partners worked together to create an innovation ecosystem that can connect scientific research, university education and technology companies.
The participation of Óbuda University was made possible by a special invitation from the Ministry of Education of Uzbekistan, in which the University was also asked to take on the task of transforming higher education in Uzbekistan. The project is also in line with the innovation development strategy of Uzbekistan, as well as the expansion of Óbuda University’s international science park network. The science and innovation park focuses on several key technological areas. These include IT development, cybersecurity, robotics, smart building solutions, medical technology, energy, materials science, and precision agriculture. The facility aims to create a platform for innovation, facilitate technology transfer, and strengthen research and development cooperation between Uzbek and Hungarian institutions and companies. In line with the program of the third Hungarian-Uzbek Rectors' Conference, the opening ceremony was attended by Kongratbay Sharipov, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, Ulug'bek Mustafoyev, Governor of Jizzakh Region, Rodrigo Ballester, Ministerial Commissioner for the Internationalization of Hungarian Higher Education and Research at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, József Rózsa, Ambassador of Hungary to Uzbekistan, and Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University, President of the Hungarian Rectors' Conference. Also present were the rectors of the founding universities of INNO Science Park, Botir Usmonov, Rector of the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology, Alisher Usmankulov, Rector of the Jizzakh Polytechnic Institute, and Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Óbuda University, Co-President of the Hungarian Rectors' Conference. With the opening, the INNO Science Park officially began its operations and in the future may become one of the key institutions of Uzbek-Hungarian innovation cooperation, a key pillar of Uzbekistan's innovation ecosystem.
Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács emphasized at the opening: “The establishment of the INNO Science Park clearly demonstrates that Óbuda University is now an active shaper of the innovation ecosystem not only in Hungary but also internationally. Our goal is for scientific research, university education and market innovation to work in close cooperation, and for us to create international knowledge centers that are capable of creating real economic and technological value.” As part of the initiative, a representation of Obuda Uni Venture Capital (OUVC) will also be established, which will help bring research results and prototypes to the market through technological acceleration, business development, and venture capital investments. In addition, 50 Uzbek students can study at Óbuda University every year, creating an alumni network with a science park approach and strong knowledge of Hungary, which will strengthen the scientific and economic relations between the two countries in the long term and will form the recruitment base of INNO Science Park. One of the pillars of Óbuda University's vision is an extensive science park network that connects scientific research, university education and market innovation. The INNO Science Park in Jizzakh can be one of the most important international nodes of this network, contributing to the development of the Hungarian and Uzbek innovation ecosystems in the long term.
The participation of Óbuda University was made possible by a special invitation from the Ministry of Education of Uzbekistan, in which the University was also asked to take on the task of transforming higher education in Uzbekistan. The project is also in line with the innovation development strategy of Uzbekistan, as well as the expansion of Óbuda University’s international science park network. The science and innovation park focuses on several key technological areas. These include IT development, cybersecurity, robotics, smart building solutions, medical technology, energy, materials science, and precision agriculture. The facility aims to create a platform for innovation, facilitate technology transfer, and strengthen research and development cooperation between Uzbek and Hungarian institutions and companies. In line with the program of the third Hungarian-Uzbek Rectors' Conference, the opening ceremony was attended by Kongratbay Sharipov, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, Ulug'bek Mustafoyev, Governor of Jizzakh Region, Rodrigo Ballester, Ministerial Commissioner for the Internationalization of Hungarian Higher Education and Research at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, József Rózsa, Ambassador of Hungary to Uzbekistan, and Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University, President of the Hungarian Rectors' Conference. Also present were the rectors of the founding universities of INNO Science Park, Botir Usmonov, Rector of the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology, Alisher Usmankulov, Rector of the Jizzakh Polytechnic Institute, and Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács, Rector of Óbuda University, Co-President of the Hungarian Rectors' Conference. With the opening, the INNO Science Park officially began its operations and in the future may become one of the key institutions of Uzbek-Hungarian innovation cooperation, a key pillar of Uzbekistan's innovation ecosystem.
Prof. Dr. Levente Kovács emphasized at the opening: “The establishment of the INNO Science Park clearly demonstrates that Óbuda University is now an active shaper of the innovation ecosystem not only in Hungary but also internationally. Our goal is for scientific research, university education and market innovation to work in close cooperation, and for us to create international knowledge centers that are capable of creating real economic and technological value.” As part of the initiative, a representation of Obuda Uni Venture Capital (OUVC) will also be established, which will help bring research results and prototypes to the market through technological acceleration, business development, and venture capital investments. In addition, 50 Uzbek students can study at Óbuda University every year, creating an alumni network with a science park approach and strong knowledge of Hungary, which will strengthen the scientific and economic relations between the two countries in the long term and will form the recruitment base of INNO Science Park. One of the pillars of Óbuda University's vision is an extensive science park network that connects scientific research, university education and market innovation. The INNO Science Park in Jizzakh can be one of the most important international nodes of this network, contributing to the development of the Hungarian and Uzbek innovation ecosystems in the long term.
