Uzbekistan and the U.S.-based Alliance for Commercialization and Innovation Research (ACIR) discussed expanding cooperation to promote agricultural innovation, commercialize scientific research and attract international investment into the country's agribusiness sector. This was reflected in the statement by the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan following a meeting between Agriculture Minister Ibrohim Abdurahmonov and Eric Azulay, founder of ACIR and a member of Uzbekistan's International Expert Council. The talks focused on strengthening innovation in agriculture by supporting the commercialization of research, expanding access to international grant programs and developing mechanisms to bring scientific discoveries to market. "The parties discussed supporting agricultural innovation, commercializing scientific developments and attracting investment to the sector through international grant programs," the ministry said in a statement. The participants also reviewed prospects for launching joint educational, consulting and innovation initiatives with ACIR in the near future to strengthen research commercialization and technology transfer.