As part of the 70th Anniversary celebration of the Andijan State Medical Institute (ASMI) in Uzbekistan, ELZA Institute CEO, Nikki Hafezi, MAS IP ETHZ, took part in a series of high-level academic and institutional events from April 28 to May 1, 2025.
Invited as a guest of honor, Hafezi delivered several strategic presentations on innovation management, intellectual property in medical technology, and international scientific collaboration. These sessions were tailored to engage not only students and faculty, but also representatives of the Uzbek Agency for Social Protection and Andijan University.
A key theme of her presentations was the need for structured innovation ecosystems within medical institutions. Drawing from her experience as a leader in ophthalmic technology transfer at ELZA Institute and a consultant to medical device startups, Hafezi outlined actionable steps for bridging research, regulatory strategy, and global deployment.
In a separate session for faculty and policymakers, she emphasized how medical universities can better support translational science through early-stage innovation policies and cross-border licensing frameworks. “Universities are not just places of learning—they are launchpads for scalable healthcare solutions,” she remarked.
The ASMI anniversary event also provided an opportunity to strengthen ties between Swiss and Central Asian academic communities. Hafezi expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended by the Uzbek organizers and praised the vision of ASMI’s leadership in celebrating not only institutional history, but also future-facing international partnerships.
