“Centre for Crystallising Ideas” - Interview with Umar Salikhbayev, Director of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbekistan Republic

Umar Sagitovich, what is your opinion of CNCP as a whole? How effective, timely, helpful is the Programme?

The CNCP Programme is undoubtedly very valuable. Our institute has been facing commercialisation challenges for a long time, since the Soviet era. We have an associated enterprise, but this activity has been mainly limited to manufacture of radio-isotopes. With the launch of the CNCP Programme, the range of ideas, tasks, participating professionals and areas of expertise has expanded.

We already have three projects implemented with CNCP’s support and seven preliminarily approved projects. More and more people are becoming involved in this activity. Moreover, the group of employees trained under the CNCP Programme is growing.

Pretty much as a crystallizing nucleus?

Absolutely. People start asking us questions, and seeking advice “How shall we do it? How did you manage to achieve it? Help us, please.” It is very valuable that CNCP is considering the opportunity to establish a commercialisation unit at our Institute. We are hoping this activity will indeed serve as a crystallizing nucleus, involving more and more people. For instance, we have isotope production, which we use to retain scientists, and they have never considered the opportunity of making money. It is important, but they thought it was impossible. This is a different psychology. And now we have an actual example of real people earning money. And this is absolutely critical.

Let’s go back to your question about the Programme being well-timed. The fact that it is focused on nuclear staff is very positive and very valuable. But defence programmes ended in 1991. First of all, there are fewer and fewer nuclear scientists, and they are getting older and older. Thus, talking about time, it would have been better if the initiative had started earlier. We initiated similar work with ISTC a little earlier, but those were scientifi c R&D-related projects, not commercialisation.

Could you tell us about the challenges the Institute is now facing?

The challenges are well known. Starting from 2007 we no longer have an external funding channel for projects, because in 2005-2006 we funded these projects through ISTC, but this organization is closing its operations in Uzbekistan. This matter is being discussed, and we are hoping we will be able to execute direct contracts. Besides, this would considerably accelerate the process.

There are concerns with timing. You must have heard in presentations made by my Kazakh colleagues that it took ISTC two years to fund a project, from negotiation up to actual fi nancing. People are being cautious. When their co-workers suggest jointly promoting projects, they raise questions like “Have you received the funding? You are still waiting!” And time fl ies. That is the problem. But I am sure that it will be resolved if there is a desire. We are defi nitely trying.

What are your plans? Horizons? How do you see relations continuing?

We have proposed many projects which are now being screened. We hope that everything will work out if we accelerate our interaction. We have many ideas. We are open for cooperation; we have demonstrated our potential and our production. I see great opportunities in collaboration. I remember we were very cautious at the beginning. There are issues with competition, since we are talking about commerce and business. For instance, we are revealing some secrets of our gem colouration business to potential competitors. But it turned out that CNCP conferences are very valuable. Look at the range of tasks! Nobody is interfering with the others, there are areas for everyone. Let’s take activation analysis as an example, we know how to do it and we do it well, but the industry rejected this method, since it does not need 10-7 %. But it is demanded in Uzbekistan! The situation is always changing. There were fi rst concerns, but these fears have gone away. We are now open. Moreover, we are looking at new ideas successfully implemented by others.

This is the key benefi t of CNCP, the conferences and the integration! And it is a great benefit!