October 3, 14:00UzDaily

Uzbekistan plans to create spin-off companies based on technical colleges

State technical colleges in Uzbekistan will gain the ability to establish spin-off companies. These companies will be able to develop new products and technologies based on startup projects with high commercial potential.

To support student startups, these companies may receive grants of up to 1 billion soums from the Fund for the Development of Vocational Education. It is expected that by the end of 2026, exemplary spin-off companies will operate in at least one technical college in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, as well as in every region and Tashkent.

The procedure for creating such enterprises was approved by Cabinet of Ministers Decree No. 524 dated September 29, 2026. This document was adopted in accordance with Presidential Decree No. PP-148 dated April 20, 2026, which concerns the implementation of the 'Youth of New Uzbekistan – 2030' strategy for the period 2026–2027 and additional measures to stimulate youth employment.

The main goal of this initiative is to introduce innovations into the vocational education system, create jobs for graduates, and support students of technical colleges.

Definition and operating conditions of spin-off companies

The rules define a spin-off company as a legal entity established by a technical college to produce goods and provide services based on startup projects that include new developments, with students participating in these processes. The founding entities can be the technical college itself, as well as private individuals and legal entities.

The technical college must own at least 25% of the company's charter capital. Companies will be established in professions and areas where training is already conducted at that college. Furthermore, the new rules do not apply to non-state professional educational institutions.

For five years after the company's establishment, known as the investment period, the state share in the charter capital cannot be privatized, and the company cannot be used for purposes unrelated to its core activities.

Application and project evaluation process

The Agency for Vocational Education under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation will determine within one month which technical colleges will create spin-off companies, taking into account the specialization of the respective regions.

The initiator of a project related to a new development, production, or service must conclude a founding agreement with the technical college and submit an application through the information system 'Management of Vocational Education Processes — EMIS PT'. The application must contain founding documents, a business plan, a technical and economic justification, and financial calculations. If the technical college itself is the initiator, a founding agreement is not required.

Applications are reviewed by a special commission established by the agency. The commission must consist of at least seven people and may include representatives from the ministry and foreign specialists. The director of the agency approves the composition of the commission annually by January 10. Reviewing applications takes 10 days, with a possibility of extension for five days if necessary.

The initiator must personally present their project at an open meeting. The commission evaluates the financial and economic efficiency of the project, the level of innovation, the degree of dual education implementation involving students, the potential for income from product sales, as well as demand from employers and prospects for graduate employment.

The commission's decision is sent to the applicant within three working days. In case of incomplete documents, they are returned for revision, and a new application can only be submitted after one month.

The register of spin-off companies will be maintained in the EMIS PT system, access to which is provided through the Startup Base unified ecosystem platform. Companies are obliged to provide quarterly reports to the agency.

Grant acquisition and fund utilization

To receive a grant, the spin-off company must provide the agency with a detailed project presentation, an employment contract with at least one teacher or master of vocational training, and dual education agreements with no fewer than five technical college students. Additionally, it must describe the planned production or services and specify the number of recruited students.

Projects are evaluated on a 100-point scale. Up to 30 points can be awarded for innovation, 25 for economic efficiency, 20 for employment impact, 15 for export potential, and 10 for environmental impact. The minimum passing score is 71 points; projects scoring 70 points or lower do not pass selection.

Following a positive decision, the agency and the technical college conclude a grant agreement within one month. The agreement specifies the project goals, deadlines, expected results, grant amount, financing schedule, forms of control over the target use of funds, and reporting procedures.

Funds are transferred to the technical college's treasury account. The college uses them to acquire property, equipment, technologies, intellectual property, and other assets, which are then transferred to the spin-off company's charter capital.

If the company refuses to sign the agreement, ceases operations, is liquidated, reorganized, or declared bankrupt, the grant allocation is suspended.

Vacant buildings, structures, and plots belonging to technical colleges are provided to spin-off companies for free use for up to five years. Light prefabricated structures without deep foundations or underground utilities can be built on these territories. Companies pay for gas, water, and electricity consumption based on readings from separately installed meters.

The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, as well as the administrations of regional and city centers of Tashkent, have been instructed to attract foreign investors to spin-off companies. Together with the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment, they will monitor the created jobs and facilitate the employment of technical college graduates through these companies.

The Fund for the Development of Vocational Education will cover the costs of modernizing the EMIS PT system.

Similar stories

uzdaily.uzOctober 2, 11:15

Uzbekistan enterprises received 415.7 billion soums through the digital lending platform TadbirCore

Small and medium-sized enterprises in Uzbekistan collectively received 1005 loans totaling 415.7 billion soums using the digital lending platform TadbirCore. These results were recorded by the platform between June 1 and September 17, 2026.

During this period, entrepreneurs submitted 3262 applications to banks via TadbirCore, with nearly one in three applications resulting in a loan disbursement, according to the Central Bank of Uzbekistan.

TadbirCore operates in beta mode under the supervision of the Central Bank. The platform's concept is that instead of approaching individual banks, an entrepreneur submits a single application that is simultaneously sent to a number of credit institutions.

The platform is currently integrated with 23 banks, including Agrobank, Asakabank, Aloqabank, Poytaxt Bank, InfinBank, Kapitalbank, Universalbank, Anorbank, Hamkorbank, Davr Bank, Turonbank, Asia Alliance Bank, Trustbank, Tenge Bank, Ipak Yuli Bank, Xalq Bank, Uzpromstroybank, Orient Finance Bank, Microcreditbank, BRB, Garant bank, TBC Bank, and National Bank.

The platform's creators explain the problem it aims to solve using the example of a typical entrepreneur: when applying to three banks, one has to collect documents, fill out questionnaires, and wait for a response three times. Since each bank has its own requirements, it only becomes clear after submitting the documents whether the applicant meets them. Furthermore, a bank may not have a branch in the entrepreneur's area, interest rates may seem similar at first glance, but the final payments differ, and a rejection may come without explanation.

The average interest rate for loans in national currency issued through the platform was 23.9%, and the average loan term was 37.4 months. The peak demand occurred in July, when 1465 applications were submitted and 420 loans totaling 169.7 billion soums were issued. In June, 954 applications and 266 loans worth 126.8 billion soums were registered. In August, entrepreneurs submitted 596 applications and received 224 loans amounting to 88.8 billion soums. Between September 1 and 17, 247 applications were received and 95 loans totaling 30.3 billion soums were issued.

The entire application process takes place online. Users log into the platform using an electronic digital signature, select one of four available products—a microloan up to 100 million soums, a current expenses loan, a long-term business development loan, or a new enterprise loan—and specify the amount, term, and purpose.

The system suggests suitable banks, whose responses are then displayed in the applicant's personal account. The entrepreneur sees the approved amount, interest rate, term, and grace period offered by each bank, chooses the preferred offer, and receives the manager's contact details. If the bank rejects the application, the platform indicates the reason, allowing the entrepreneur to improve their profile and reapply. Processing time is monitored using Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and a timer.

Banks maintain their independence: they formulate offers according to their own credit policies, set their own stop factors, and only receive applications that meet their requirements. Data is presented in a standardized format, which reduces the need for manual checks, while the analysis of rejected applications helps understand at what stage the bank loses potential borrowers.

The platform also provides access to clients in regions where maintaining branches is costly. According to the creators, competition in small business lending is shifting from the question of the number of bank branches to which conditions, speed, and quality of service are offered better.

Personal data processing is regulated by the Personal Data Law of July 2, 2019. Users decide who to grant access to their information, can withdraw their consent, and see who has accessed their documents. The platform does not request passwords for banking applications and does not have access to bank accounts. Loans through TadbirCore are available only to existing legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.

TadbirCore plans to launch a mobile application and a Telegram bot, and will also add microfinance organizations to the platform. For entrepreneurs who do not pass the initial screening, the system will ultimately provide recommendations on the criteria they did not meet and notify them about the possibility of future access.

uzdaily.uzSeptember 22, 18:10

IT Park Uzbekistan Joins Asia-Pacific Computing Industry Organization

IT Park Uzbekistan officially joined the Asia-Pacific Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO) in 2026. This membership makes the park part of an organization that unites technology associations and companies from Asian and Oceanic countries.

The confirmation of membership took place after the Startup and Venture Projects Summit. The Chairman of ASOCIO, Stan Singh-Jit, presented the official certificate of membership to a representative of IT Park Uzbekistan.

ASOCIO represents over 20,000 companies operating in the field of information and communication technologies and brings together 25 professional associations from various Asian and Oceanic countries.

The joining of IT Park Uzbekistan expands the opportunities for the country's technology companies to establish connections with members of the international ASOCIO network, find partners, and enter new markets. Furthermore, membership provides access to international initiatives and opportunities to interact with representatives of the technology industry across the entire region.