Under the support of the IncoNet Central Asia project, one Energy expert from each of the five countries of Central Asian (CA) participated at the 2015 Sustainable Energy week, 17-18 June 2015, in Brussels.

On 17 June, the CA researchers had the opportunity to present the scientific landscape of their countries in the framework of the so-called Networking Village. The Networking Village was a special feature of the EU Sustainable Energy Week, giving delegates the chance to play a much more active role in the 10th EU Sustainable Energy Week Policy Conference. It took place at the Committee of the Regions’ Jacques Delors building on 17 and 18 June.

The Central Asian researchers were offered a booth for 90 minutes on 17 June, where other interested participants had the chance to attend a series of presentations: first, Mrs Ágota Dávid from RCISD, Hungary represented and introduced the Inco-NET CA project, its current activities and open possibilities. Kazakhstan was represented by Mr Abzal Ussenov from the Institute of Organic Catalysis and Electrochemistry. Mr Ussenov focused on Sustainable Energy calls in Kazakhstan. The next speaker, Mr Bahtiyor Eshchanov from Uzbekistan, introduced to the audience a regional initiative, the Central Asian Renewable Energy Development Center (CARED), a non-governmental, non-profit organization in Uzbekistan established with the support of leading academic and research institutions. Thereafter, Mr Nazirov Khurshed from the Tajik Technical University named after M. Osimi outlined the current energy status in Tajikistan, problems and the prospect of the use of renewable energy, while Mr Gurbanmyrat Ovezmuradov analysed the conditions and prospects of development of renewable energies in the agricultural & water sectors of Turkmenistan. Finally, Mr Uluk Kydyrbaev from BizExpert Analytical Center Bishkek, gave a presentation about Renewable Energy in the Kyrgyz Republic.

In addition to these presentations, there was a number of other booths under fixed agendas, where networking among participants was encouraged.

On 18 June, the CA researchers participated in the E²Tech4Cities event – Energy & Efficiency Technologies for Cities –, a highly visible brokerage event organized by Enterprise Europe Brussels and hosted by impulse.brussels and Enterprise Europe Northern Ireland at Invest Northern Ireland at the occasion of the EU Sustainable Energy Week.

The CA scientists had bilateral talks with about 8-12 European counterparts in an average. In addition to the scheduled face-to-face talks, Central Asian researchers also had the chance to initiate less formal talks with the 95 registered participants. They managed to establish contacts with organisations like the Slovak University of Technology, REDINN (Rete Europea dell’Innovazione) from Italy, Istanbul Technical University, Brunel University London, GreenPlanet from Italy, Luxinnovation from Luxembourg, ADItech from Spain, AliénorEU from Belgium, DASS from Italy as well as other innovative companies, universities and consulting organisations.

Based on the follow-up reports of the CA participants, the events provided the scientists with valuable networking opportunities for future EU-CA collaboration.