Starting in April 2027, Uzbekistan will begin holding the annual international competition Land of Startups. Its total prize fund will amount to $5 million. The project is designed to attract foreign startups and their founders to the country, accelerate the implementation of new technologies, and strengthen the republic’s position as a regional hub for startup development. The corresponding resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 593 was adopted on October 28, 2026.
The competition will cover 5 areas: artificial intelligence, digital solutions for education, healthcare and public services, financial technology, creative industries and game development, as well as technologies for business and industry. A total of 25 teams will be selected, each eligible to receive up to $200,000 from the venture fund under the IT Park directorate. The allocation of funds will take place following comprehensive due diligence of the projects.
The resolution also amends the operating rules of IT Park. Residents are exempted from the requirement to integrate their developed accounting and measurement automation systems with the tax authorities’ information platforms. The IT Park directorate is exempt from submitting tax and statistical reports, as well as information on conducted IT courses. In addition, the list of permitted activities for residents is expanding: it now includes the production and sale of IoT and artificial intelligence devices, micro- and nanoelectronics, intelligent robots, as well as the activities of business angel clubs.