Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a new regulation for the President AI Award — a state-backed competition exclusively targeting artificial intelligence startups. Signed on June 5, 2026 under Resolution No. 288, the regulation operationalizes the October 2025 Presidential Decree PF-189 on advancing AI development. The competition runs alongside the existing President Tech Award rather than replacing it, establishing AI as a distinct priority track within Uzbekistan’s startup support infrastructure.
The competition covers three tracks: Best Startup, Acceleration, and Incubation. Five thematic directions are announced annually, with all applications and processes managed through the awards.gov.uz portal.
Prize structure and investment terms
Winners in the Best Startup track receive equity-based investment from IT Park Ventures LLC at the following amounts: 1st place — $100,000; 2nd place — $60,000; 3rd place — $40,000. Funding is disbursed in two tranches: 50% within 15 business days of signing the investment agreement, with the remainder contingent on KPI fulfillment over a one-year period.
The Incubation track distributes a total of $1,000,000 in grants across 25 teams, while the Acceleration track allocates $1,500,000 in IT Park Ventures investment across 15 teams.
The process follows a fixed annual calendar. Applications open July 1 and close August 1. Offline project pitches are held by September 5, followed by an acceleration program running through December 1. Final presentations take place by December 25. Five teams per track — 25 in total — advance to the third stage, with 15 winners ultimately selected across all tracks.
Eligibility
Uzbek citizens and foreign nationals permanently residing in the country may participate. Team size requirements vary by track: 3–8 members for Best Startup and Acceleration, 2–5 for Incubation. Each team may apply to only one track. Mentors are ineligible for team membership, and no participation fee is charged.
The competition is overseen by an Organizing Committee chaired by Minister of Digital Technologies Sh.Kh. Shermatov, with representatives from the Central Bank, Ministry of Finance, energy, tax, and customs bodies. Technical screening and evaluation are handled by IT Park Directorate, with projects assessed on market fit, revenue model viability, and socioeconomic impact.
The President AI Award represents Uzbekistan’s most institutionalized state mechanism for AI sector development to date. Beyond funding, winners gain access to international accelerator networks through IT Park Ventures’ portfolio infrastructure.
Read more: https://pivot.uz/uzbekistan-to-launch-government-ai-portal-ai-gov-uz-by-the-end-of-the-year/
