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Research idea
A young scientist’s early idea
up to 400BCA
- Two stages, at least 2 months
- Pitch to the commission
- Paid to the author’s bank card
- Implementation — up to 1 year
Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 222 of 19 April 2021
Regulation (lex.uz)
Calls (startup.ilmiy.uz)
3
tracks
research idea, research project and startup
40
age limit
regardless of degree or position
3,000
BCA
the largest grant, for a startup project
1
bn soums+
recommended for 12 projects in 2026
01About the contest
From a research idea to research and the market
“Bo‘lajak olim” (Future Scientist) is a state contest supporting talented young people in science and innovation by rewarding research ideas and funding research and startup projects.
Legal basis
CM Resolution No. 222, Annex 2
Applications
Received by the Youth Academy
Frequency
At least once a year
Implementation
Ideas and startups — up to 1 year
Participants
Young scientists aged up to 40
Citizens of Uzbekistan aged 40 or under may take part, regardless of degree, title, position or workplace. An applicant is the young scientist who developed the idea or project and/or their team.
The contest is held at least once a year. The call — with the procedure, deadlines and requirements — is published on the Ministry’s official website at least one month before it opens.
Key rule
A winner may not enter another contest in the same calendar year.
Contest goals
-
01
Identify and reward young people’s research ideas
-
02
Fund research projects within state science programs
-
03
Commercialize startup projects and bring them to market
-
04
Find research-based solutions to real problems in society and the economy
02Tracks
Three tracks — three kinds of grant
From a researcher at the idea stage to a market-ready startup — a dedicated funding mechanism for each stage.
Research project
An announced topic or an initiative project
up to 2,000BCA
- Technical and scientific review
- Approved by the Collegial Body
- Three-party contract
- At least 40% for equipment and materials
Startup project
A solution ready for commercialization
up to 3,000BCA
- Startup pitch to the commission
- Financial and economic review
- Contract with a legal entity
- Implementation — up to 1 year
BCA — base calculation amount. The grant in soums is calculated at the current BCA value.
Contest calls — on the startup.ilmiy.uz platform
Every new “Future Scientist” call is announced on this platform, and applications are accepted there too.
03Stages
A clear roadmap for every track
The regulation sets a deadline for each stage, so the path from application to announced winners is transparent and known in advance.
At least 2 months
Research idea: two-stage selection
Review by the Youth Academy and a pitch to the contest commission.
- Applications · 1 month
Research ideas are accepted for one month after the call.
- Youth Academy · 30 days
Completeness and formatting are checked; incomplete ideas are returned and resubmitted within a month.
- Pitch · 30 days
The author defends the idea before the contest commission; an unexcused absence is grounds for rejection.
- Minister’s order · 10 days
Ideas scoring at least 50 points are declared winners by the commission.
- Results · 10 days
Winners are published on the Ministry’s website and online media.
From topics to final list
Research project: two-stage review
Topics are announced in advance; projects pass technical and scientific review.
- Topics are formed
The Youth Academy develops research topics throughout the year.
- Topics announced · 20 days before
Topics reviewed by the commission are published 20 days before the call.
- Project intake
Topic-based and initiative projects are accepted until the deadline.
- Technical review · 15 days
Documents are checked for completeness and compliance.
- Scientific review · 30 days
Expert groups formed by the Scientific and Technical Information Center assess the projects.
- Collegial Body · 10 days
The final list of funded projects is approved.
~50 days after intake
Startup: pitch and financial review
The startup is pitched to the commission and assessed from a financial and economic standpoint.
- Call announced
The Ministry announces the startup contest every year.
- Applications
Applications showing the implementation mechanism, timeline and first results.
- Pitch · 20 days
The startup is presented at a contest commission session.
- Financial and economic review · 20 days
Projects scoring at least 50 points move forward.
- Collegial Body · 10 days
The final funding decision is made.
04Evaluation criteria
A 100-point scale and a 50-point threshold
Research ideas and startups are scored out of 100 — at least 50 points are needed to win or move to the next stage.
Research projects
Research projects are selected on the conclusions of technical and scientific review; expert groups are formed by the Scientific and Technical Information Center, and the Collegial Body approves the final list.
Responsibility and monitoring
- Winners are personally responsible for quality, reporting and funds
- The Youth Academy monitors research ideas
- Projects are monitored by the Scientific and Technical Information Center
- Funding is suspended if deadlines are missed
- Unmet obligations — a 2-year ban from the contest
- Unused funds go to future contests
Commission and funding
Transparent evaluation, clear funding
An independent contest commission reviews applications, and funds are delivered through different mechanisms depending on the track.
Contest commission
- At least 7 members — an odd number
- Each with at least 2 years of sector experience
- Chaired by a deputy-minister-level official
- Membership approved every January
- Quorum — two thirds of members
7+commission members
2/3quorum
Funding mechanism
- Research idea — paid to the author’s bank card
- Research project — contract between the Ministry, winner and host organization
- At least 40% of funds for research equipment and materials
- Startup — contract with the winner’s legal entity
- A partner co-funding 20%+ earns priority
2026 results
The contest in numbers
In 2026, calls were announced together with the Innovative Development Agency, and projects that completed acceleration were recommended for funding.
4calls announced
29acceleration projects reached the final
12projects recommended for funding
1 bn+soums in total
1.09bn soums
Republic of Karakalpakstan
1.09 bn soums was allocated to 11 projects in the republic.
135mln soums
For accelerator participants
Projects rated positively at the “Kelajak Muhandislari” accelerator Demo Day receive awards of up to 135 mln soums.
Have an idea? Turn it into a research project
New calls are published on the startup.ilmiy.uz platform. Use our acceleration programs to prepare.