Turkmenistan to hold agrostartup contest for young scientists ahead of Harvest Festival
The Council of Young Scientists of the S.A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University will hold an exhibition and contest of agrostartup research projects among young scientists at the country's higher education institutions. The contest is titled "Ylymly ýaşlar döwletimiziň geljegidir" ("Young Scientists Are the Future of Our State"). It is timed to the Harvest Festival (Hasyl toýy), celebrated in Turkmenistan every year on the second Sunday of November. This is stated in the contest regulations.
According to the document, young scientists conducting research at universities in the country are invited to take part. They may submit research projects and ideas related to agriculture and environmental protection. The contest accepts work on new goods, products, technologies or services based on the results of scientific, technical and technological research and with potential for commercialization. The contest is organized in accordance with the Turkmen laws "On Education," "On Innovation Activity," "On Rationalization Activity" and "On Science and Technology Parks."
The contest will be held in two rounds. Participation in the first round is individual only. Exhibits may include technical devices, prototype models, mechanisms, instruments and equipment reflecting the level of technology in agricultural science and practice, technical design projects, and the appearance of future machinery presented through models, mock-ups and other equipment.
Under the regulations, exhibits must be prepared in a form suitable for display and meet modern design and aesthetic requirements, and instruments and apparatus must be in working order. All exhibits must comply with fire and electrical safety requirements, and their moving parts with safety standards. Exhibits must reflect the essence and results of the research. Each participant is given 5 minutes to defend a project; the jury may extend this time, taking into account the scientific basis or complexity of the project. A passport is drawn up for each exhibit. Together with the exhibits, the exhibition's responsible officer is given the name of the device, the creative part of the development and its operating principle, drawings and diagrams meeting the requirements of the unified system for design documentation, a list of references and sources, and, if patented developments are used, copies of the patent and author's certificate.
Registration must be completed by October 25, 2026, by writing to yasalymlargenesi@gmail.com or sending in personal details. Registered participants must prepare the project in full and submit information on its working condition as a presentation, preferably with an additional explanatory video of one to three minutes. The organizing committee will announce the results of the first round by November 1, 2026, and participants will be notified by phone or text message. First-round winners will present their work at the exhibition and contest on November 3, 2026, at the S.A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University.
After projects are registered, the university's organizing group will form a jury of representatives of relevant agencies and organizations with no interest in the outcome of the contest. The Council of Young Scientists of the university is in charge of organization. A participant who disagrees with an assessment may appeal to an appeals panel formed with the participation of independent experts; its decision is final. Winners will receive valuable gifts and diplomas.
Contacts: phone +993 65 131712, email yasalymlargenesi@gmail.com.
