Uzbek startups emerged as the standout winners at the ECO Startup Competition Central Asia, held on the sidelines of the Regional Environmental Summit in Astana. Out of five prizes awarded to teams from across the region, three went to Uzbek projects.

The startups Defuse-IT, Sirly, and Organic Living each received 3 million tenge (over 78.5 million soums) for their innovative solutions in water resource management, food waste reduction, and circular economy principles. A similar prize was awarded to Kyrgyzstan's Water Watch AI Plus, while the grand prize of 5 million tenge went to Kazakhstan's eco-project Aua Line.

The Uzbek initiatives showcased a wide range of technologies: Defuse-IT is an intelligent mobile water purification and monitoring system that uses sensors and AI to analyze water quality in real time and automatically adjust filtration. It targets water-scarce regions, agriculture, and emergency situations.

Sirly is a digital platform that helps food service establishments sell unsold daily products at reduced prices, cutting waste and promoting responsible consumption. Organic Living offers a refill system for household cleaning products, using reusable packaging and soluble tablets to reduce plastic usage.

The competition was part of the RES 2026 EXPO international exhibition, which featured technological and investment solutions for sustainable development, including new energy technologies, water management, smart city digital solutions, environmental innovations, ESG, and green finance.

Source: podrobno.uz