Turkmenistan has officially opened applications for the National Innovation Projects and Startups Contest, titled "Digital Solution 2026." The initiative is designed to identify and support talented young programmers, developers, and inventors whose technology solutions align with the country's strategic priorities for economic modernization and digital transformation.

Organized by the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, the event has been held annually since 2020 as part of the nationwide concept for digital economy development. The primary objective of the competition is to encourage youth participation in creating advanced software, innovative technological products, and scalable digital services across various sectors.

The contest is open to high school students, university undergraduates, and young professionals. For the 2026 edition, submitted entries will be evaluated across seven distinct categories: artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, smart agriculture technologies, Smart City concepts, digital education, electronic healthcare, and digital solutions for modern service industries.

An expert panel will review all submitted projects based on technical feasibility and potential economic impact. The final results and award ceremony will be held during the international exhibition and scientific conference "Turkmentel 2026" at the end of the year. Interested candidates can register and submit their project materials digitally via the official portal telecom.tm.