Global Call for Innovations!

The AgriTech4Uzbekistan Innovation Challenge is powered by the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform and co-designed with CGIAR centers ICARDA, IWMI, and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. The project is implemented in collaboration with Hackonnect, IT Park, innoWIUT Entrepreneur’s Lab of Westminster International University in Tashkent, the United Nations Development Programme Uzbekistan, FAO, the Agency of Innovative Development under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan through the AKIS Center, Indorama, the Uzbekistan Venture Capital Association, the Tashkent State Agrarian University, and the International Agriculture University.

 

 

Why AgriTech4Uzbekistan?

Fueling Innovation, Scaling Sustainable Agriculture in Central Asia

With Uzbekistan having one of the most promising markets in Central Asia, the AgriTech4Uzbekistan Innovation Challenge is committed to supporting the local Uzbek innovation ecosystem to reach the highest international standard in the agri-food and climate-tech space. We are looking for high-impact science-based agri-food and climate-tech innovations that can make agriculture in Uzbekistan sustainable, more efficient, and resilient to climate change while contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Are you an innovator working on a solution that is applicable to the context of Uzbekistan and contributes to at least one priority area?

Digital agriculture &
precision farming

Capacity
building

Water management &
irrigation systems

Financial
services

Supply chain management

Watch the Bootcamp Highlights Video

Meet the 22 innovation teams that participated in the AgriTech4Uzbekistan bootcamp

Learn more

What We Offer to Help Boost Your Innovation

AgriTech4Uzbekistan offers a comprehensive range of resources and connections to help you thrive through business training, technical assistance, and financial support. Gain invaluable insights and feedback as you test your solutions with real end-users and industry players in Uzbekistan, accelerating your growth.

Fully funded 3-day immersive bootcamp in Tashkent
Sponsored acceleration program combining business training and technical assistance
On-the-ground experimentation and pilot testing in Uzbekistan
Networking and technical assistance from CGIAR scientists
Exposure to potential investors, opening doors to funding opportunities and commercial partnerships.
A share of the $30K equity-free grant for winners with a sustainable business model and scaling plan
Access to dedicated co-working spaces and incubation facilities
Access to a community of likeminded innovators, fostering peer-to-peer learning
Post-acceleration support to accelerate go-to-market and growth

Why Participate?

Spanning over six months, AgriTech4Uzbekistan is a global call for solutions structured into action-packed phases, with intermediate selections aimed at discovering the very best innovations. You will connect with project partners who will be involved throughout the program, taking an interest in your solutions and providing their valuable expertise and guidance. 

Get ready to supercharge your growth! The AgriTech4Uzbekistan Innovation Challenge is designed to catapult your innovations to the forefront of the industry.

What Innovators Say About Us

"Building innovative solutions requires attention to both the business and its science or development process. Through the AgriTech4Uzbekistan bootcamp, we at Soilens had the opportunity to learn not only the art of doing business and pitching to investors, but also collaboration with like-minded individuals. We intend to use these new skill to maximize our processes",

SoiLens, Bootcamp Participant at the AgriTech4Uzbekistan Innovation Challenge 2023

"The AgriTech4Uzbekistan bootcamp has been an incredible journey, amplifying our vision for sustainable agriculture in Uzbekistan. This bootcamp empowered our project Lima-BOT of GET Robotics to harness technology for a greener and more prosperous future. Together, we're sowing the seeds of innovation in agriculture",

GET Robotics, Finalist of the AgriTech4Uzbekistan Innovation Challenge 2023

"The AgriTech4Uzbekistan bootcamp was a game-changer for our project, iWater. It illuminated the path to solving the longstanding issue of inefficient hydrological station monitoring. Through iWater, we are bringing real-time monitoring, revolutionizing water management. This bootcamp experience has fueled our commitment to a future where water is valued, communities thrive, and ecosystems flourish. Thanks to this bootcamp, we are contributing to make a lasting impact in Uzbekistan",

iWater, Finalist of the AgriTech4Uzbekistan Innovation Challenge 2023

"We are ecstatic to be a part of the CGIAR x Rockstart Investor Readiness Program, which will aid NovFeed’s global expansion. Everything, from the rigorous selection process to the final showcase, was designed to create amazing connections that generate new opportunities between start-ups and the broader ecosystem of corporates and investors in the AgriFood industry. We owe a debt of appreciation to Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT for opening a door for NovFeed that would have been nearly impossible to open without their assistance",

NovFeed, Winner of the Agrobiodiversity Innovation Challenge 2021

The AgriTech4Uzbekistan Innovation Challenge was a one-of-a-kind event that helped identify some of the promising innovations that could accelerate agriculture and the allied sector in the Central Asian region, which is highly vulnerable to climate change and economic volatility. Although CGIAR develops several cutting-edge solutions, many of these innovations remain in the “freezer” and are not put to operational use beyond the lifetime of projects and initiatives. The CGIAR A4IP’s effort to bring out my innovation amongst the mainstream market is phenomenal in making me realize the business mindset that innovators (and digital tools) should have while developing solutions that could be scaled and put to use. It was also a fantastic opportunity to network with new innovators, the private sector, and public sector partners and understand their priorities and outlook. The CGIAR A4IP’s efforts in bridging science with the market greatly facilitate accelerating scientific rigor at the same time, develop scaling strategies from a practical perspective. I acknowledge the CGIAR A4IP team for considering us for this mission.

GeoAgro-Dehqon, CGIAR-led innovation and finalist of AgriTech4Uzbekistan Innovation Challenge 2023

Watch the Recording of the Kick-Off Event

Missed the Kick-Off Event? Watch the recording to learn how AgriTech4Uzbekistan sets out to support purpose-driven entrepreneurs, researchers, and CGIAR scientists in bringing their solutions to end-users through a structured market-driven program. Hear from sector experts on how agri-tech can accelerate transformation in the agriculture sector and how Uzbekistan is paving the way to become an innovation hub in Central Asia.