The Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with IT Park, has launched a new competition to support innovative startups developing artificial intelligence-based solutions in Uzbekistan, positioning “AI Connect” as a bridge between the banking sector and the technology ecosystem. Participating startups are expected to propose AI-driven solutions within a 10-day development period and then present their products on a Demo Day stage to experts, partners, and industry representatives. Top-performing teams may receive access to venture investment, potential outsourcing collaborations with commercial banks, opportunities to commercialize their products, shared access to data and infrastructure, and participation in joint research initiatives. Applications are open from November 20 to 30 via the Startupbase.uz platform, with Demo Day scheduled for December 5 at Aloqabank Headquarters.