In 2025, global investments in the critical minerals sector saw a decline of 9%, with expenditures on geological exploration dropping by over 10%. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), this downturn is attributed to rising geopolitical tensions and price volatility, leading investors to adopt a more cautious approach. Despite this, the demand for critical minerals remains robust.
In response to these challenges, Uzbekistan is taking significant steps to enhance its scientific and technological capabilities necessary for the in-depth study of mineral resources. This includes determining their composition and properties, testing processing technologies, and scaling solutions to an industrial level. The establishment of the TMK R&D Park is a pivotal move in this direction, designed as an integrated ecosystem for scientific research, technological testing, and the commercialisation of technologies in the critical minerals sector.
The R&D Park model encompasses sample reception and sorting, nano-analysis, scientific research, technology development, pilot testing, validation, commercialisation, and the attraction of investments, alongside the development of innovative products. A central component of this ecosystem will be the Central Nano-Analysis Laboratory, which is expected to analyse up to 300,000 samples annually, covering over 40 elements through modern analytical methods including ICP-OES/MS, XRF/XRD, and AAS.
This initiative goes beyond merely expanding laboratory capabilities; it aims to localise analytical services currently performed abroad, reduce turnaround times for results, lower transportation and logistics costs, and establish a foundation for future exports of laboratory and analytical services. Future phases of the project will enhance capabilities in automated mineralogy, high-precision elemental analysis, and the study of high-purity metal characteristics.
One of the key advantages of the R&D Park will be the direct integration of laboratory research results with subsequent metallurgical and technological processing stages. The Technology Testing Centre within the R&D Park will focus on developing technologies for extracting valuable components from ores, industrial tailings, and waste, conducting pilot tests, and creating comprehensive solutions for industrial application.
The R&D Park is positioned as a regional hub for critical raw materials in Central Asia, identified in project documentation as the only specialised R&D centre in the region focused on critical mineral resources. Alongside the Central Nano-Analysis Laboratory, the park will integrate several key facilities, including a Technology Testing Centre, a Uzbek-Korean Research Centre for Rare Metals, a high-purity metals division, an additive manufacturing centre, an arbitration sample storage facility, and a Centre for Innovation Commercialisation.
This infrastructure will foster a necessary scientific and technological environment in Uzbekistan for the analysis of critical mineral resources, testing new processing technologies, and commercialising research outcomes. The Centre for Commercialisation will also facilitate patenting intellectual property, technology transfer, and commercialisation efforts, opening new avenues for collaborative research projects, pilot tests, and the commercial implementation of solutions in partnership with international technology companies, mining industry enterprises, research institutions, and investors. Stakeholders offering solutions in mineral analysis, enrichment, processing, new materials production, or technology testing are encouraged to collaborate with TMK R&D Park to test, validate, and scale their innovative solutions for industrial implementation in Uzbekistan.
