Broad horizons of science in Uzbekistan

On the threshold of the fourth decade of independence in Uzbekistan, further accelerated modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of enterprises, and the widespread introduction of modern flexible technologies have been identified as a priority direction for the progressive development of the country. Indeed, the effective use of scientific and technical developments can become an important advantage of Uzbekistan on the way to becoming one of the developed industrial countries.

The most valuable capital of the state
The socio-economic development of the country, the efficiency and competitiveness of its economy in modern conditions are largely determined by scientific and technical potential. Science is the most valuable capital of any state. There is not a single branch of the economy or sphere of public life that could develop without science, scientific analysis and forecasting. Against the background of the fact that the academies of sciences of a number of CIS countries and far abroad have ceased to exist, much is being done in Uzbekistan for the successful development of academic science. Over the past six years, the country's scientific and technical policy has been built, focused on the development of high-tech industries, which has led to the rise of many industries and agriculture, hence, to the economic growth of the republic. 
Nowadays, scientists of Uzbekistan occupy leading positions in many areas of science. Among them are nuclear physics, astronomy, solid state physics, solar engineering, bioorganic chemistry, chemistry of natural compounds, biology of cotton, biotechnology, archeology, Oriental studies. 
Recent years have been very important for the Russian Academy of Sciences. With the support of the Head of State, a number of scientific institutions that had previously been transferred to the system of various ministries returned to the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan and were reconstructed. 
The scientific potential consists not only of scientists. Its components are also an instrument and experimental park, access to information and its completeness, a management and support system for science, as well as the entire infrastructure that ensures the advanced development of the sphere and the information sector, without which modern science and technology are simply unworkable. 
Currently, the Academy of Sciences has 36 research institutions, including 27 large institutes, a research center and a specialized design and technology bureau, three museums, three regional branches: Karakalpak, Navoi and Khorezm Mamun Academy, two botanical gardens, the Fan publishing house, the main library. The Academy of Sciences publishes 20 thematic journals in the main scientific fields and the popular science magazine "Fan va Turmush" - "Science and Life". The research topics have been critically analyzed and revised, 99 major and relevant topics have been formed and are being developed, more than 20 joint research projects on international grants are being carried out. More than five and a half thousand scientists and scientific and technical staff work in scientific institutions of the Academy of Sciences and its regional branches.
World-class results
In recent years, Uzbek scientists have obtained a number of significant fundamental results in the field of natural and technical sciences.
Thanks to the scientific discoveries of physicists of the Academy of Sciences, solar energy has been intensively developed in the country. 
The Institute of Ion-Plasma and Laser Technologies named after U. Arifov for the first time synthesized one-dimensional nanoscale nanotubes in solutions, which have excellent semiconductor properties and mechanical strength. 
A unique collection of the cotton gene pool has been created, including more than ten thousand samples of varieties of cultivated species. For example, with the help of marker selection technology, cotton varieties "ravnak-1" and "ravnak-2" were created and introduced in farms. High-quality varieties "porlock-5", "porlock-6", "porlock-7" and "porlock-8", the withering-resistant variety "bardosh" and biotechnological lines that are not afraid of drought, cold and salinization of the soil were obtained. New varieties of fine-fiber cotton with high resistance to various diseases, as well as high-yielding and early-ripening varieties of wheat "beads" and "barkamol" have been created.
The Institute of Plant Chemistry for the first time isolated a new type of alkaloid from nature as a ligand and proved its structure by various physico-chemical methods. As a result of chemical experiments, 80 new substances were synthesized.
The Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics has identified all DNA sequences of coronavirus strains, making Uzbekistan one of the countries that have read the full genome of its variants. Scientists of the center have developed an edible vaccine against COVID-19 from tomatoes "Tomavac". In addition, Russian scientists have created a recombinant protein vaccine "Renovac", a liposomal vaccine based on DNA "Genovac" against the same virus and an active neutralizing immune milk "Immune Milk".
The Institute of Mechanics and Seismic Resistance of Structures named after M. Urazbayev and the Institute of Seismology named after G. Mavlyanov have developed a number of scientific innovations based on a mathematical model of seismodynamics. A set of practical programs has been created for calculating spatial systems of underground pipes under the influence of seismic waves in the form of a three-component seismogram, an interactive "Seismological Atlas of Uzbekistan" has been compiled and implemented, a new accelerometer designed to register wave accelerations during earthquakes has been developed. 
In addition, new efficient types of cotton gins, transport devices and mechanisms for leather and agricultural production have been created.
From the laboratory to production
In a market economy, academic science has made a decisive turn to the needs of production, which in turn also adapts to the needs and requirements of science. In close cooperation with industry and agriculture workers, unique varieties of cotton, wheat and potatoes have been selected in a relatively short period, highly efficient devices and new biotechnological products have been created, thanks to which imports have been significantly reduced and exports of the country have been increased. Hundreds of medical, food and feed products have been developed. The main directions of further development of fundamental sciences, primarily mathematics, high-energy physics, computer science, chemical technology, nanotechnology, biology, genetic engineering, have been identified.
Many of the original developments of the Academy of Sciences have been introduced into the basic sectors of the economy of the republic and bring a significant economic effect. The "green road" to grant funding of academic science has been opened, innovative research has received a new impetus. 
Thanks to the well-chosen strategy of the President, the oil-producing, oil and gas, automotive, chemical, processing, metallurgical and a number of other industries and agricultural production are gaining power in Uzbekistan. They, in turn, give a new impetus to the further development of science.
The truth that a modern state should develop at the expense of innovations and new technologies, and not at the expense of raw materials, is now beyond anyone's doubt. Those countries in whose economy modern technologies are not a decisive factor of development, in terms of well-being and well-being of the population, are increasingly lagging behind societies that create high technologies, produce high-tech products and export them to all regions of the planet. 
Tasks for the future
On the threshold of the fourth decade of our country's independence, it is very important to determine the strategic directions for the development of "big" science. It faces a number of urgent tasks. These are the development of high technologies, including bio— and nanotechnologies for the development of domestic production; the creation of inexpensive mini-technologies focused on local raw materials and the production of high-quality products for small and medium-sized businesses; the development of a unified concept for the use of water resources, improving the environmental situation; forecasting and long-term planning of fundamental scientific research in all fields of science; 
strengthening the relationship between science and education.
It is necessary to increase the role of the Academy of Sciences as a coordinator of scientific research in the country, to strengthen its responsibility for creating the theoretical foundations of fundamentally new types of equipment and technologies.
The solution of the above problems requires the training of highly qualified personnel, because they are the foundation of serious science. In the conditions of market relations, the requirements for the professionalism and competence of researchers are still increasing. Thanks to the strengthening of the material and technical base of the institutes of the Academy of Sciences, since 2018, not only the "brain drain" to foreign scientific centers has stopped, but also the influx of talented young scientists into laboratories and departments of scientific institutions and universities has intensified. 
It is necessary to expand the training of personnel in technical and especially engineering specialties, since in the era of technological progress they are the future. World practice shows that the most significant discoveries in science were achieved by scientists aged 27-48 years. Special attention should be paid to the issue of retaining talented young people and a fruitful part of scientific personnel in science. It is the duty of scientists of the older generation to constantly engage in scientific and methodological education of young people, to arouse their interest in scientific and experimental work, scientific discoveries.
Big science should develop not only in the capital of the country, but also in regional centers. It is necessary to raise the prestige of scientists, to establish a professional holiday in Uzbekistan — the Day of Science. 
In the XXI century, a qualitative modernization of the ways of science development is necessary. It should develop according to a six—part formula: fundamental research — innovative development — creation of new technologies, products, devices, programs — production regulations — new (serial) production - a new quality of life. Therefore, it is very important to constantly improve the science management system. 

Now more than ever we need a new type of science, a new image of a scientist, a new form of scientific and technological progress. It is necessary to further develop fundamental, applied and innovative research, increase their effectiveness to meet the needs of all sectors of the national economy in order to ensure the sustainable development of the country and take a worthy place among economically prosperous states. It is necessary to form a competitive system of knowledge generation, dissemination and use in Uzbekistan. Only such a system will ensure sustainable economic growth in the country.
It is safe to say that today, laying the foundation for the development of science, we will definitely get worthy fruits in the future. And there is no doubt that a number of developments of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan will reach the world level in all the most important areas of knowledge, because the responsibility of scientists to the people is exceptionally great.

Mashkhura Mavlony,
academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan.