Startups in Uzbekistan will expand access to funding and R&D infrastructure

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on the implementation of a four-stage startup support ecosystem, covering all stages from idea generation to scaling and entering international markets. The new system aims to develop youth entrepreneurship, attract investments, and stimulate technological innovation.

This comprehensive model includes forming startup ideas, developing projects, launching startups, and scaling them, including exports. To achieve this, R&D centers will be established at universities and tech parks, equipped with laboratories, 3D printers, coworking spaces, and expert support. Higher education institutions plan to introduce student accelerators, internship programs, and exchange programs with international universities, as well as participation in competitions, hackathons, and championships to identify and support the best youth projects.

Under the program, startups will have access to grants, interest-free loans, and venture capital investments, as well as coverage for training, patenting, and prototyping costs. Additionally, measures will be taken to simplify visa requirements for foreign founders and teams developing international projects.

More than $160 million and 130 billion Uzbek som have been allocated for financing the ecosystem in 2026-2027, which will be used to develop infrastructure, support startups, and create new jobs. It is expected that by 2030, up to 5,000 startup projects will be created in the country, with hundreds of them entering foreign markets and becoming technology companies with international valuation.

Source: lex.uz