Applications for the 17th National Competition of Innovative Projects are being accepted until August 1st. The event is organized by the State Committee on Science and Technology with the participation of the Ministry of Education, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Belarusian Republican Youth Union, and the Belarusian Innovation Fund.

The competition has long established itself as an effective platform where bold scientific ideas meet the real economy. For developers, this is not only an opportunity to present their ideas to the general public, receive an objective assessment from the country's leading experts, attract investors, and win cash prizes.

Both legal entities and individuals are invited to participate. Projects may be at various stages of implementation, but a clear commercialization strategy is a mandatory requirement for all nominees.

The competition traditionally has two key categories:

• "Best Innovative Project";
• "Best Youth Innovative Project."

The competition program includes a robust educational component: to prepare participants for their defense, training seminars will be held with leading Belarusian experts in innovation and venture capital, marketing, and business planning.

The competition will begin with an in-person defense, followed by the authors of the 40 best projects, who will have the opportunity to present their defense in person before the competition council.

The winners will receive not only well-deserved recognition but also a financial incentive to help them take the first steps in implementing their projects:

• First place (two winners) – a prize of 3,870.00 rubles each;
• Second place (four winners) – a prize of 2,565.00 rubles each;
• Third place (six winners) – a prize of 1,305.00 rubles each.

Following the defense, the council will select the projects with the greatest market potential for further commercialization. The authors of these developments will receive grant certificates totaling 25,695.00 rubles. These funds will be used to further refine the technologies, create an industrial prototype, or launch the first production run.