Presidential Resolution Sets Target to Increase Startup Projects to 5,000 and Venture Investment to $2 Billion
2026-02-13 11:35:00 / News of ministry
In order to ensure the implementation of the tasks outlined during the Fifth Open Dialogue of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan with entrepreneurs, as well as to provide institutional, financial and infrastructural support for startup projects at all stages, from idea generation to scaling, Presidential Resolution No. PQ-59 dated February 11, 2026 “On Measures to Introduce a Comprehensive Startup Support Ecosystem” was adopted.
The Resolution defines the following target indicators for the development of the national startup ecosystem by 2030:
• Increase the number of startup projects to 5,000 and the volume of attracted venture investment to $2 billion;
• Transform 500 startup projects into companies valued at more than $1 million, 100 projects into companies valued at more than $10 million, and 25 projects into companies valued at more than $100 million;
• Create more than 20,000 new jobs through the implementation of startup projects;
• Commercialize 2,000 startup ideas generated by young people and ensure at least 400 startup projects enter international markets.
A four-stage startup support ecosystem will be introduced, covering idea formation, project development, launch, and scaling.
The Resolution stipulates that starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, secondary specialized and vocational education students, as well as students in grades 9–11 of general secondary schools, will gradually participate in “Skills and Business Hour” sessions at least twice per month, aimed at developing startup thinking and idea generation skills.
Within this framework:
• A “Best Startup Idea” competition will be organized among students. District-level winners will receive awards of up to 5 million soums, and regional-level winners up to 10 million soums. Their projects will be supported by the Youth Affairs Agency and IT Park;
• Startup projects will be presented quarterly to parents, business representatives and the scientific community;
• Cooperation mechanisms with marketplaces will be introduced to support the sale of products created within educational institutions.
Starting from April 1, 2026, a crowdsourcing-based problem-solving system will be introduced. Under this mechanism:
• State bodies, organizations and state-owned enterprises will publish problem statements on a crowdsourcing digital platform and organize open competitions;
• Monthly meetings with startup initiators (“Startup Day”) will be held.
• Procurement procedures for effective solutions will be conducted through the crowdsourcing platform in accordance with established procedures.
Beginning in 2026, the national “Most Innovative Idea” competition will be held annually to identify high-potential ideas capable of being transformed into startup projects.
Under this mechanism:
• Competitions will be held at state higher education institutions, and winners will receive grants of up to 100 million soums from extra-budgetary funds of higher education institutions;
• The national stage will be conducted across 10 areas, with a total prize fund of 10 billion soums financed through the Fund for Financing Science and Supporting Innovations.
In addition, winners of ideathons and hackathons will be eligible to receive:
• Convertible loans of up to $20,000 from state venture funds for early-stage startup projects, subject to participation in incubation or acceleration programs;
• Grants of up to $10,000 for digital technology startups within the “Digital Startups” program.
Starting from 2027, research and development centers equipped with laboratories, digital infrastructure, experts, coworking spaces, legal services, testing sites and financing instruments will be established:
• By the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the Agency for Innovative Development, within youth technoparks and higher education institutions on a phased basis;
• By the Ministry of Digital Technologies, in the city of Nurafshon.
The Resolution provides for R&D vouchers covering up to 50% of prototype development costs for up to 10 promising projects annually. Funding will be provided:
• In youth technoparks and higher education institutions, through the State Trust Fund for the Development of Youth Entrepreneurship;
• Within the Ministry of Digital Technologies, through the “Digital Startups” program.
Student accelerators will be introduced at higher education institutions in cooperation with IT parks and venture funds. Internship and exchange programs with leading international accelerators and universities will also be established.
Higher education institutions will be granted the right to invest their own funds, up to $20,000 equivalent per project, into promising startup initiatives of students and academic staff through incubation centers and student accelerators. Student accelerator teams will include startup managers and startup trackers.
Starting from 2026, the “Young Entrepreneurs” championship will be held annually. Based on its results:
• Up to 100 startup and business projects may receive investments of up to 1 billion soums each through the State Trust Fund for Youth Entrepreneurship Development and the Yoshlar Ventures venture fund;
• Costs for financial and marketing expert services aimed at transforming startup projects into brands will be reimbursed up to 100 times the base calculation amount;
• Proposals will be submitted to authorized bodies to recommend winners for state awards, including the “Active Entrepreneur” and “Uzbekistan Belgisi” badges.
Starting from April 1, 2026, startup projects participating in the “Digital Startups” program will automatically receive IT Park residency status and will be eligible to use relevant benefits and preferences without minimum export requirements established by legislation.
Through the State Trust Fund for Youth Entrepreneurship Development, youth startup projects will be eligible to receive:
• Interest-free loans of up to 5 billion soums for up to 20 projects annually to establish startup studios, incubation and acceleration centers, with a one-year grace period;
• Monthly grants covering participation costs in incubation and acceleration programs up to 100 times the base calculation amount.
Starting from April 1, 2026, Startup Clubs will be established in all regions under the leadership of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional khokims and the Tashkent city administration. Their responsibilities will include organizing monthly meetings with startup initiators, providing practical support in interaction with state bodies, and involving large business entities in regional startup initiatives.
Beginning in 2026, the Startup Expo will be held annually as a national platform for demonstrating startup projects and attracting investment.