The Competency Building Program provides business-training support to ISTC beneficiaries. This training improves the skills needed to create, develop, and maintain economically sustainable business and commercialize technologies.

The ISTC is creating resource centers that take advantage of distance- learning technologies that will reach larger numbers more cost-effectively. These centers are designed to provide a base for versatile distance-learning

that includes both multimedia courses and seminars. The centers will also include business-related reference materials and expert consultations for ISTC beneficiaries who are seeking information and partnership on commercialization. ISTC is establishing its first resource center in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic in cooperation with the ISTC branch office that is located there.

The multimedia-training course on ‘Business Planning’ was completed.

“SME Business and R&D Commercialization”, Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk Region
In anticipation of layoffs at Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR), Dimitrovgrad Administration requested ISTC to help re-skill researchers. ISTC conducted a seminar for approximately 60 participants, mainly NIIAR specialists, introducing commercialization concepts. As a result, several commercialization requests were submitted to ISTC.

“Commercialization of ISTC Project Results”, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Seminar focused on developing initiatives to commercialize R&D resulting from ISTC Projects, as well business management level presentations. Approximately 50 ISTC Project Managers and participants from Kyrgyzstan took part in the event. During the 3-day seminar ISTC specialists delivered a sample presentation of a product to potential investors and simulated meetings with representatives of industry with a Q&A session..

“Jumpstarting Business Relationships with Western Companies”, Pushchino, Moscow Region
ISTC and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington DC, USA co-organized. Approximately 140 former WMD scientists from Russian/CIS institutes participated. Seminar provided business, marketing, and basic legal topics essential to developing partnerships with western pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms and enabled attendees to interact directly with US industry representatives regarding, technologies and services with commercial potential.

Two long-term training events funded by the US Bio Industry Initiative (BII) are underway: Under these one-year agreements the CERBRD and TEMPO will develop specific curricula, select lecturers and instructors, and prepare training materials, up-grade needed training equipment and etc.

1. The Centre for Ecological Research and BioResources Development (CERBRD), Pushchino, will organize and conduct a Workshop “Development of the Pilot Plant Training Facility for Bioengineering and Biotechnology Specialists” for 40 participants.
2. The Center of Modern Medical Technology (TEMPO) will organize 3 Workshops “Development and launch of GLP preclinical trial competency-building program” for 100 participants.