Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 18 February 2025, Uzbekistan launched the new season of Technovation Girls Uzbekistan, the country’s largest STEM program for girls.

The initiative is organized by the NGO Tech4Impact with the support of the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the Center for Digital Education Development, and Yandex Uzbekistan. The opening ceremony gathered around 1,500 girls, with young participants from Tashkent, Andijan, Namangan, Nukus, Urgench, and Fergana joining the event via online broadcast.

Technovation Girls is a prestigious international competition held annually in more than 70 countries worldwide. Its primary goal is to equip girls with programming, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence skills to tackle social challenges. The program enables participants to master key digital competencies and prepares them for careers in IT.

Over the course of 12 weeks, participants undergo training in programming, marketing, business skills, and presentation techniques. They work on developing mobile and web applications aimed at solving pressing social issues aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Notably, prior programming experience is not required to take part in the program.

Saida Yusupova, Director of Tech4Impact, highlighted that this year, the program has expanded its regional reach and gained new partners, making it the most ambitious season in the project’s history. Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Shermatov, emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating that the competition opens tremendous opportunities for girls. Supporting women in IT is a key priority of the government’s policy, and he expressed hope that this year, even more Uzbek finalists will reach the international stage in California.

Yandex Uzbekistan is also actively supporting the project. The company’s director, Izzat Shukurov, noted that more women in IT means more innovation, ideas, and technological solutions. Last year, 60 female Yandex employees mentored participants, and this season, the company will continue assisting future IT specialists in developing their projects.

As part of the competition, teams work on socially impactful mobile applications addressing key issues such as the use of artificial intelligence in education, support for people with disabilities, combating bullying in schools, environmental protection, and improving road safety.

Uzbek teams have achieved remarkable success on the international stage. In 2023, the team Tecnas, with their VR laboratory project for schools, ranked among the world’s top 12 teams and received the Social Impact Award.

Registration for Technovation Girls Uzbekistan 2025 is open until March 1, 2025. Girls aged 8 to 18 from all regions of the country are invited to participate. Offline training sessions and workshops will be held in six cities: Tashkent, Andijan, Namangan, Nukus, Urgench, and Fergana. The online format allows teams from any region to join the program. Participation is free of charge, but knowledge of English is required.

The final event of the season will take place in May 2025 in Tashkent, featuring a project exhibition and an awards ceremony for participants and mentors. The best teams will have the opportunity to present their projects at the international finals in California, competing among the world’s top 15 teams.