Uzbekistan Approves Rules for “Most Innovative Idea” Contest

Uzbekistan has approved the procedure for organizing the national “Most Innovative Idea” contest among students at state higher education institutions, the Ministry of Justice said.

The relevant regulation was approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 463 dated 4 September 2026.

The contest is intended to identify promising student projects and innovative ideas that can be developed into startup projects and later funded.

According to the approved regulation, the contest will be held every year from September to December and will include two stages. The first stage will be conducted directly at state higher education institutions, while the national stage will be organized by the Innovation Development Agency.

At the national stage, ideas will be evaluated in 10 areas.

Every year on 10 September, educational institutions must announce the start of accepting applications for the first stage.

Each student may submit only one innovative idea. Applications must be submitted to the selection committee by 10 October.

Ideas will be assessed by selection and competition committees under a 100-point system. Up to 20 points may be awarded for each of five criteria: the scientific and innovative novelty of the idea, its relevance, how it differs from existing alternatives, the validity of the proposed cost estimate and the expected results of implementation. Each criterion has the same maximum score.

Winners of the first stage will receive grants. The first-place winner will be awarded 50 million soums, second place 30 million soums and third place 20 million soums.

Higher funding amounts are provided for winners of the national stage. Innovative ideas will be financed under an agreement between the Innovation Development Agency, the applicant and the relevant organization.

The first-place winner at the national stage will receive 500 million soums, while second place will receive 300 million soums and third place 200 million soums.

The new procedure sets out a step-by-step selection process for student ideas, beginning with contests within individual educational institutions and advancing to the national level, with the possibility of later funding for the highest-scoring projects.