The Cabinet of Ministers on September 4 approved the regulations for the "Most Innovative Idea" competition. The event will be held annually from September to December in two stages.

Ten directions

The competition covers the following areas:

  • digital technologies and artificial intelligence;
  • financial technologies (fintech);
  • agricultural technologies;
  • cybersecurity;
  • healthcare and pharmaceuticals;
  • defense and security;
  • energy efficiency and water technologies;
  • science and education.

How selection works

The first stage takes place in universities. Applications are accepted until October 10; one participant can submit only one idea. Evaluation is conducted by a screening committee of employees with academic degrees, as well as bachelor's and master's students.

By November 10, the committee identifies the best ideas. Each university allocates 100 million soums in prizes from non-budgetary funds:

  • first place — 50 million soums;
  • second — 30 million;
  • third — 20 million soums.

Funds are transferred to the recipient's bank card no later than November 20.

National stage

University competition winners advance to the finals. Their applications are evaluated by a committee of at least five people — scientists, representatives of state bodies, and specialists from industry, including the private sector.

The Innovation Development Agency forms the list of participants by December 1; the finals conclude by December 20. Regional participants may present ideas online.

Prizes for the three best projects: 500 million, 300 million, and 200 million soums.

Important note about funds

National stage funds are transferred not to the author directly, but to university accounts under a tripartite agreement involving the idea author and the Innovation Development Agency.

The agreement fixes project implementation timelines, planned activities, and conditions for monitoring targeted fund use.

This structure fundamentally differs from the university stage, where the grant goes to a personal card: at the final level, funds are tied to project implementation rather than awarded as a prize.

Evaluation criteria

Up to 20 points can be earned for each of five criteria:

  • novelty from scientific and innovation perspectives;
  • relevance of the idea;
  • difference from existing analogs;
  • justification of budget estimates;
  • expected results from implementation.

The competition complements support tools for early-stage projects: the National Venture Fund program with financing up to 5 billion soums for startups and tax benefits for business angels were previously announced.