The Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan has announced the launch of the "Sanly çözgüt — 2026" innovative projects competition, aimed at identifying and supporting young software developers and startup initiatives within the country's digital economy. The submission of documents from participants will continue until October 1, 2026, and the results of the competition will be announced during the "Turkmentel-2026" international exhibition and scientific conference at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ashgabat.

The competition is held in accordance with the approved Concept for the Development of the Digital Economy of Turkmenistan for 2026–2028 and aims to train qualified IT specialists and launch new startups in the field of digitalization.

Participation in the contest is open to individuals or teams of up to three members, provided a team leader is designated. Eligible entries include web services as well as software products for computers and mobile devices; authors must provide information regarding the development's cybersecurity and specify the timeline for intellectual property protection. Submission of the software source code is mandatory.

Projects will be evaluated across seven areas: artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, agricultural technologies, smart city solutions, education and e-learning, digital healthcare, and the service sector. An ad hoc expert commission will be established to assess the applications, operating under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Communications.

Winners in each category—taking first, second, and third place—will receive cash prizes, valuable gifts, and certificates. Participant registration and application submissions are handled electronically via the telecom.tm website.