Uzbekistan creates Land of Startups contest with $5 million prize fund

Uzbekistan's Cabinet of Ministers adopted resolution No. 593 on 28 October 2026 to create an international competition called Land of Startups (Startaplar makoni), according to the StartupBase Telegram channel. The total prize fund is $5 million.

The competition starts in April 2027 and will be held every year in five tracks: artificial intelligence; digital technologies in education, healthcare and public services; financial technologies; creative industries, including computer and mobile games; and B2B and industrial solutions.

Twenty-five winning teams will each receive up to $200,000 from the venture fund at the IT Park directorate after a due diligence process, according to the resolution.

The resolution states its purpose as attracting foreign startup projects and their founders to Uzbekistan, increasing technology transfer and turning the country into a regional startup hub. It was adopted to implement presidential resolution PQ-59 of 11 February 2026 on startup support measures.

Changes at IT Park

The resolution also amends the rules governing IT Park. Residents are no longer required to integrate accounting tools they develop for automation into the tax authorities' information systems. The IT Park directorate is released from the duty to submit tax and statistical reports and information about IT training courses.

IoT and AI devices, microelectronics and nanoelectronics, the production and sale of intelligent robots, and the work of business angels clubs were added to the list of activities open to IT Park residents.

Source:StartupBase, 03.11.2026