On December 22, 2011 scientists and businessmen of Kherson and Mykolayiv subregion met in Kherson Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Representatives of companies and entrepreneurs who work in the sphere of agriculture, processing industry and recreational and tourist economy were attended to the meeting.

Scientific community was represented by the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding, Kherson State Agraricultural University, Institute of Irrigated Farming and Melon-growing, Kherson National Technical University.

Participants were welcomed by the President of the Kherson Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Ms Viktoriya Ostroumova and the head of USAID LINC Mr Howard Ockman. In his speech he stressed the importance of this project uniting efforts of science and business in order to increase profitability and to improve the quality of products and services.

It should be recalled that  USAID LINK is a project "Local Investment and National Competitiveness" of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) aimed to provide assistance for progressive territorial communities in order to increase investment and job creation. The project is carried out in close cooperation with authorities, local businesses and potential investors.

The main topics which were discussed at the meeting were devoted to cultivation techniques of growing ecologically clean vegetable protein, pre-processing of grain, drip irrigation technologies, technologies in vegetable growing and sheep breeding, wool processing etc.

Scientists had an opportunity to present their developments directly to the members of the real economy, and to meet with entrepreneurs who may find interest in the further implementation of these developments in their production. If the partners would appeared  between the scientific and business sectors, they may fill an application form for the program "Innovation voucher". "Innovation voucher" is a grant of up to USD 2.000 provided on a competitive basis and intended for funding from USAID LINC "the last step to the market" – the key joint activities of partners from science and SME sector in order to commercialize the research and scientific developments.