Uzbek President Launches Nine Innovation Projects

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the state-run Cyber University in Nurafshan, attended the foundation stone ceremony for the Future Technologies Center and launched nine new innovation projects.

The president toured the university's educational and research facilities. The institution was established in 2025 under the Ministry of Digital Technologies.

The university currently has two faculties and four departments, with around 1,000 students enrolled in eight bachelor's and two master's degree programmes. It trains specialists in information and cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics, cyber law, digital forensics and cyber economics.

Mirziyoyev met with students and said demand for digital technology specialists would continue to grow, adding that the country's successful development is impossible without the digitalisation of all sectors of the economy and public administration.

He then attended the foundation stone ceremony for the Future Technologies Center, which will be built adjacent to the university.

The president said countries that do not invest in digital transformation, artificial intelligence and innovation risk falling behind global development.

He said venture investment in Uzbekistan has increased fivefold since the beginning of this year, while the value of the country's startup ecosystem has reached nearly US$4.5 billion. To support innovation projects, he announced a Presidential startup competition with a prize fund of US$5 million.

According to information presented during the ceremony, the Future Technologies Center will cover 36 hectares. Around US$500 million in investment is expected to be attracted for its construction. The complex will integrate educational institutions, research centres, technology laboratories and production facilities into a single innovation ecosystem.

The centre will include six modern laboratories specialising in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies and cryptography, an artificial intelligence data centre, an engineering cluster, facilities for producing secure computers, data transmission equipment and high-tech tokens, as well as a testing ground for unmanned aerial vehicles and robotics.

With support from the Asian Development Bank, a platform is planned to commercialise domestic technologies and promote national products in international markets. The complex will also be supplied with electricity through generating facilities with a capacity of 5 megawatts.

Officials said an innovation cluster would be developed around Cyber University to serve as a model for similar ecosystems across the country. Plans include attracting leading international companies, universities and research teams, as well as creating modern social and cultural infrastructure.

According to figures presented during the event, the Future Technologies Center will create more than 5,000 highly skilled jobs. A further 5,000 jobs are expected through the implementation of nine new projects worth US$465 million involving Russian, Chinese and German companies.

Officials also said exports of digital services from the Tashkent region are expected to reach US$50 million in 2026. Construction has also begun on modern IT park buildings in Nurafshan and Chirchik to support further development of the sector.

Concluding the ceremony, Mirziyoyev expressed confidence that the new innovation ecosystem would become an important driver of the region's digital economy and strengthen Uzbekistan's international standing.