Uzbekistan and Serbia Discussed Joint Startup Investments

Officials from IT Park Uzbekistan and Serbia's Innovation Fund explored potential technology project co-financing.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Startups

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IT Park Uzbekistan and Serbia's Innovation Fund met in Tashkent to coordinate grant management and startup acceleration strategies for upcoming joint investment projects. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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IT Park Uzbekistan and Serbia's Innovation Fund met in Tashkent to advance collaborative efforts for supporting startups. The discussions aimed to transform a previously signed memorandum of understanding into actionable investment initiatives.

Why it matters

This partnership seeks to expand the resources available to startups in both nations by leveraging shared expertise in grant management and acceleration programs.

The meeting followed the formalization of a memorandum of understanding in September 2026. The Serbian Innovation Fund currently manages the Katapult acceleration program as a key pillar of its support infrastructure.

The players

IT Park Uzbekistan

This is a technology hub and venture entity that provides support and infrastructure for startups operating within the Uzbek ecosystem.

Serbia's Innovation Fund

This government-backed organization manages financial and operational support for Serbian startups, including the Katapult acceleration program.

The details

The delegation met with leadership from IT Park Ventures to coordinate information on existing grant programs and the Serbian Katapult acceleration system. Both parties also confirmed plans for collaborative participation at the upcoming Expo Belgrade 2027.

Timeline

  1. September 2026: Memorandum of understanding signed between the organizations.

  2. October 8, 2026: Meeting held in Tashkent to discuss practical implementation.

  3. 2027: Planned participation in Expo Belgrade and related hackathon events.

Market Landscape

International partnerships between innovation hubs reflect a broader trend of cross-border collaboration in the global startup ecosystem. This alignment positions both Uzbekistan and Serbia to accelerate the integration of their local technology sectors into larger global markets.

For entrepreneurs and investors, this collaboration may soon offer broader access to international grant programs and acceleration resources. These initiatives aim to streamline cross-border project development and increase support for early-stage companies in both regions.

The takeaway

Collaborative international agreements between innovation agencies serve as a blueprint for startups looking to scale beyond their domestic markets. These frameworks provide critical access to global acceleration programs that would otherwise be difficult for local firms to reach.

What happens next

The entities are scheduled to participate in Expo Belgrade 2027, where they will also conduct a joint hackathon.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest developments in the global ecosystem by visiting our Startups section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Trend.

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