UWED Hosts Opening Ceremony of the “UWED Startup Incubation Program – 2026”

On November 2, 2026, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) held the official opening ceremony of the “UWED Startup Incubation Program – 2026”.

The event was organized by the university's Center for Digital Education, Innovation and Acceleration to support students' innovative initiatives, develop promising startup projects, facilitate their practical implementation, and foster an entrepreneurial culture among young people.

During the event, Zafar Davlatov, Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation and Economic Affairs, presented an overview of the work carried out under the incubation program, its key stages, future plans, and statistical data on the number of participants and startup projects.

As highlighted during the presentation, this year's program has attracted more than 200 participants and over 100 startup projects. These figures reflect the growing interest among students in innovation and startup entrepreneurship.

The opening ceremony was attended by Nodir Alibekov, a representative of the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Usmon Rahimjonov, a representative of IT Park Uzbekistan; and Ozodbek Odilbekov, Deputy Director for Central Asia at Plug and Play.

In their remarks, the guests emphasized the importance of developing the startup ecosystem, transforming innovative ideas into viable projects, supporting young entrepreneurs, and expanding domestic and international cooperation.

The event also featured a special video address by Nilufar Majidova, a representative of the US-based Silk Road Innovation Hub.

At the conclusion of the opening ceremony, Sodyq Safoyev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Rector of UWED, addressed the students, offering his best wishes and recommendations. In his remarks, the Rector highlighted the importance of innovative thinking, initiative, and modern knowledge in the professional development of young people and officially launched the “UWED Startup Incubation Program – 2026”.

The program is expected to contribute to the further development of an innovative and entrepreneurial environment at the university, help transform promising student ideas into practical projects, support student-led startup initiatives, and expand opportunities for domestic and international cooperation.