Like many other former Soviet Union countries, Uzbekistan benefited previously from a relatively high level of education, support and scientific research opportunities offered by Russia, Eastern Europe and JINR (Dubna). Following the end of the USSR, Uzbek scientists suffered from increasing isolation and in particular from a lack of income and financial support, which they often compensated by using the remaining research infrastructure for commercial purposes, while many scientists left the country or changed profession.

While currently collaborating with CERN through JINR, this community has also tried to establish direct contacts with CERN. Uzbekistan participates in CMS as a Member of the “Russia-JINR Member States” (RDMS) sub-collaboration. This provides Uzbek scientists with a minimum of support by JINR (and CMS), and there have also been discussions about joining another LHC experiment and signing an International Cooperation Agreement (ICA).