Startups in Tatarstan can apply and win up to 500,000 roubles in the “Innovation of the Year – 2026” competition
Tatarstan continues submitting applications to the regional competition “Innovation of the Year – 2026.” Students, researchers and technology entrepreneurs can present their developments and receive financial support of up to 500,000 roubles. Applications are accepted until September 30, 2026 on the official website.
The project helps promising teams obtain expert assessment, find investors and accelerate product time-to-market. Projects at any stage of readiness may participate—from early scientific ideas to a working product. The key requirement is that the idea is backed by a technology that can be developed further.
Applications can be submitted now in four nominations:
Prospects — for high school and college students’ ideas at the early stage of development.
Student Startup — for university students turning scientific ideas into technological projects.
Tech Company — for active entrepreneurs scaling an already ready industrial product.
Intellectual Property — for projects with registered patents.
The jury will evaluate projects across five key directions: information and telecommunications technologies; new chemical technologies, petrochemicals, and materials; mechanical engineering, instrumentation, and energy; biotechnology and agro-industrial complex; medicine and human health.
The fifth nomination, Corporate Innovation (for large companies implementing startup solutions), has already closed submissions on July 30. Expert evaluations will take place on the sidelines of the Kazan Digital Week – 2026 International Forum.
Organizers: Tatarstan Investment and Venture Fund, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of the republic and the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan.