A Youth Contest Titled “ICT Startup: Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Development” Was Held

In the Year of Peace and Trust, as proclaimed in our country, large-scale efforts are being made to unlock the creative potential of youth, support their innovative initiatives, and create opportunities for their participation in international projects.

One such initiative was the contest “ICT STARTUP: Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Development,” organized by the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan in cooperation with the Turkmen State Energy Institute. Holding this event in the ancient city of Mary, located at the crossroads of great civilizations, added special significance to the competition.

This contest became the first major initiative to implement the proposals of Turkmen youth presented at the Second Meeting of the Central Asian Youth Dialogue, held on April 16, 2025, at the UN headquarters in New York, initiated by Turkmenistan. Information about the contest was presented to the international community during the opening of the Dialogue, which speaks to its international relevance and wide recognition.

The initial idea for the competition was proposed at the international forum “Dialogue – the Key to Peace,” held in 2024 in the city of Arkadag. That forum laid the foundation for developing friendship, mutual trust, and peaceful exchange of ideas among young people. The contest became not only a platform for innovative project competition but also a venue for discussing global issues, sharing knowledge and ideas in the field of technology and sustainable development. The presentation of creative solutions, innovative approaches, and socially meaningful initiatives by young participants on such a broad platform is clear evidence of the great attention being paid to youth in our country.

The President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, consistently emphasizes the key role of youth in the achievements, development, and prosperity of our Homeland. Supporting youth, unlocking their vast potential, and fostering active citizenship are among the top priorities of the state policy.

Today, Turkmen youth successfully demonstrate their knowledge and talents at international olympiads, creative contests, festivals, and sporting events. Young men and women of our country work successfully in both the public and private sectors and contribute to the development of all areas of the national economy.

In the Era of Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State, under the wise leadership of the President of Turkmenistan, broad opportunities are being created for youth to receive quality education, support their initiatives, and strengthen international cooperation. Thanks to these conditions, Turkmen youth are making a worthy contribution not only to peace within the country but also to regional and global stability by promoting useful and creative ideas.

At the opening ceremony of the contest, a video message by Turkmen youth addressed to the international community — voiced during the Central Asian Youth Dialogue on April 16, 2025, in New York — was shown. The video received an enthusiastic response from the audience.

The contest lasted two days and gathered over 200 young participants. The submitted projects were evaluated by a respected panel of experts from various fields. A total of 35 projects across 7 categories were selected as winners:

1. Energy and Energy Efficiency:

• Project “Energy-Saving Residential Building” (Ashgabat)
• Project “Smart House” (Mary velayat)
• Project “House of the Future” (Balkan velayat)
• Project “Green City” (Dashoguz velayat)
• Project “Digital Future in Energy” (Mary velayat)

2. E-Government and Cybersecurity:

• Project “Mobile App for E-Government” (Ashgabat)
• Project “Safe Digital School” (Dashoguz velayat)
• Project “National Cybersecurity” (Ashgabat)
• Project “Digital Identity” (Balkan velayat)
• Project “Digital Solution” (Mary velayat)

3. Environment and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources:

• Project “Digital Waste Management” (Dashoguz velayat)
• Project “Smart Irrigation System” (Ahal velayat)
• Project “Eco-Friendly Transport” (Ashgabat)
• Project “Green Initiative” (Mary velayat)
• Project “Agricultural Innovations” (Ahal velayat)

4. Smart City and Smart Infrastructure:

• Project “Smart Transportation System” (Ashgabat)
• Project “Digital City Management” (Balkan velayat)
• Project “Intelligent Street Lighting System” (Mary velayat)
• Project “Smart Infrastructure” (Ahal velayat)
• Project “Digital City Map” (Dashoguz velayat)

5. Education and Innovation:

• Project “Digital Educational Platform” (Ashgabat)
• Project “Virtual Learning Classroom” (Balkan velayat)
• Project “Educational Innovations” (Mary velayat)
• Project “Online Knowledge Platform” (Ahal velayat)
• Project “Mobile Learning App” (Dashoguz velayat)

6. Healthcare and Digital Technologies:

• Project “Digital Medical Assistant” (Ahal velayat)
• Project “Health Online” (Ashgabat)
• Project “Smart Clinic” (Dashoguz velayat)
• Project “Digital Healthcare” (Balkan velayat)
• Project “Medical Data Management System” (Mary velayat)

7. Financial Technologies and the Digital Economy:

• Project “E-Wallet” (Ashgabat)
• Project “Digital Platform for Startups” (Mary velayat)
• Project “Mobile App for Financial Literacy” (Dashoguz velayat)
• Project “Future Online Bank” (Balkan velayat)
• Project “Digital Entrepreneurship” (Ahal velayat)

At the closing ceremony of the contest, winners and finalists received diplomas and commemorative gifts. Held in a spirit of friendship, mutual understanding, and creativity, the event left a lasting impression on all participants and became an important step in further revealing the potential of Turkmen youth.