Minister of Economy Mariam Kvrivishvili, alongside Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, awarded winners of the latest 150,000-GEL co-financing grant program by the Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA), where 20 startups were selected by international experts.

Kvrivishvili emphasized that building an innovative startup ecosystem is a top government priority, with 264 startups already having received 43.5 million GEL in funding to date, resulting in over 700 million GEL in private sector benefits.

“Our goal is to position Georgia as a global hub for high-tech and innovative startups,” she said.

Key announcements included:

Increased grant funding: Annual grant amount will rise from 150,000 GEL to 200,000 GEL.

Global acceleration program: Four top accelerators — Plug and Play, 500 Global, Founder Institute, and Startupbootcamp — will launch in Georgia by early 2026, targeting 160 startups per year.

Unprecedented tax benefits: Starting September 24, a 0% tax rate for three years will apply to eligible startups, SMEs, and R&D-focused companies.

Kvrivishvili called these efforts a “logical next step” in deepening Georgia’s integration into the global innovation economy.