Gafforov Bekzod Amin ugli, a final-year listener of the joint Master’s programme of the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), has become the winner of the republican «Kelajak Muhandislari» («Engineers of the Future») competition in the «Best Invention» category.

The republican «Kelajak Muhandislari» competition, organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is aimed at identifying and supporting promising engineering ideas, innovative projects and inventions. In 2026, 1,925 applications were submitted to the competition, of which 90 participants were selected for the final stage, while 27 authors of the best developments were named winners in various categories.

One of the winners was Bekzod Gafforov, who presented an innovative development - a new design of lining for a ball mill based on wear-resistant steel and cast-iron materials, primarily intended for enterprises in the mining and metallurgical and cement industries. The development is aimed at extending the service life of equipment, improving grinding efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

Of particular significance for the Graduate School of Business is the fact that Bekzod Gafforov achieved this result while being a final-year listener of the joint Master’s programme of the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship and RANEPA. The programme complements his engineering and industrial experience with modern knowledge in management, strategic and project management and the economic assessment of management decisions. This combination makes it possible to consider the technical development not only from an engineering perspective, but also in terms of its economic efficiency, practical feasibility and prospects for implementation.

The joint Master’s programmes of the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship are specifically focused on integrating listeners’ professional experience with modern management competencies. The victory of a final-year listener in a republican competition is a clear example of the outcomes of this educational environment: professionals from the real sector have the opportunity to systematize their accumulated practical experience, develop strategic and project-oriented thinking and transform professional ideas into economically sound projects and management decisions.

The Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship congratulates Bekzod Gafforov on his well-deserved victory and wishes him continued professional success, new inventions, and the successful implementation of promising innovative projects!