President of the Republic Award for Best Startup 2026: The Complete Guide
With the first edition of the President of the Republic Award for Best Startup, Algeria sets a new milestone in building its knowledge economy: the highest state honor awarded to innovation and startups. The move deserves real credit, because it takes support for the ecosystem beyond administrative measures to symbolic and material recognition at the highest level. In this reference guide we explain the award in detail — its legal basis, categories, requirements, timeline, jury and evaluation criteria, and how to apply — so every founder and interested reader has a clear point of reference.
What is the President of the Republic Award for Best Startup?
It is an annual national honor launched by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Micro-enterprises, established by Presidential Decree No. 26-86 of 19 January 2026. It aims to recognize the most outstanding startups and innovative projects contributing to technological progress and the knowledge economy in Algeria, granting them the state’s highest distinction along with national and international visibility.
The award holds its first edition in 2026 and runs entirely through a dedicated digital platform, making it a modern initiative that reflects the spirit of the ecosystem it celebrates.
The award’s three objectives
The award rests on three stated objectives that sum up its philosophy:
- Encourage innovation: showcase innovative solutions and technologies developed in Algeria.
- Strengthen the knowledge economy: support the rise of national champions able to lead digital transformation and global competitiveness.
- Honor excellence: grant the state’s highest distinction and give winners national and international visibility.
Why is this award a turning point?
The initiative deserves recognition because it raises the acknowledgment of startups to the highest level of the state. When an honor carries the name of the President of the Republic, the message goes beyond the prize money: it declares innovation a national priority.
The impact is practical too: the distinction gives the winning company exceptional credibility with partners and investors at home and abroad, and pushes an entire ecosystem of founders to raise the bar on their projects. It is a lever for national ambition, not just a competition.
The three categories and the prize money
The award is granted every year in three categories, each tied to a label and carrying its own cash prize, for a total of six million Algerian dinars:
Best Scale-up
Awarded to a company holding the “Scale-up” label that has shown strong growth and market expansion. Prize: 3,000,000 Algerian dinars.
Best Startup
Awarded to a company holding the “Startup” label that has developed an innovative product or service, brought it to market successfully and shows strong growth potential. Prize: 2,000,000 Algerian dinars. This is the category in which labeled startups compete.
Best Innovative Project
Awarded to a holder of the “Innovative Project” label for a promising innovative idea. Prize: 1,000,000 Algerian dinars, split equally among the project members when awarded to an innovative project.
Who can apply? Eligibility requirements
The award sets precise eligibility requirements, the first and most important being a valid official label:
- Hold a valid label: applications are open exclusively to holders of the “Innovative Project”, “Startup” or “Scale-up” label issued by the National Labeling Committee through the startup.dz platform.
- Your highest label sets your category: a company that upgraded from “Startup” to “Scale-up” applies in the Scale-up category, and so on.
- One category only: each applicant competes only in the category matching its label.
- Innovation and technology: the project or product must show a clear level of innovation and be linked to new technologies.
- Waiting period for winners: a previous winner may apply again after two consecutive editions have passed.
The basis of eligibility: the startup label
The real gateway to applying is the official label. To understand how to obtain it and what it requires, see our two guides: Ministerial Order 1275 and Startups in Algeria.
Timeline of the first edition, 2026
The first edition goes through five key milestones, from the award’s creation to the ceremony:
- January 2026: Presidential Decree 26-86 establishing the award is issued.
- April 2026: jury members are appointed by order of the minister in charge of startups.
- 23 July → 23 August 2026: application period via the digital platform.
- September - October 2026: the jury evaluates all eligible applications and selects the winners.
- November 2026: award ceremony during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
The jury and evaluation criteria
Evaluation is handled by an independent jury appointed by the minister in charge of startups for a one-year term, renewable once, made up of experts from Algeria and abroad.
Jury composition
The jury has seven members representing complementary expertise:
- A representative of the minister in charge of startups.
- An international expert in new technologies.
- A national expert in new technologies.
- A national or international venture capital expert.
- Two members of the National Labeling Committee (innovative project, startup, scale-up, incubator).
- A representative of the Algerian National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI).
Evaluation criteria
The jury assesses each category against defined criteria. For the startup category, it evaluates the innovation of the product or service, national and international presence, innovation performance, and the contribution to the development and competitiveness of the national economy. For innovative projects, it evaluates originality, maturity, team capability and potential to contribute to technological progress.
The jury reserves the right to withhold the award in one or more categories if applications do not reach the required level of excellence — which underlines how demanding the criteria are and how much the honor is worth.
How to apply, step by step
Applications are submitted exclusively through the award’s digital platform at startupoftheyear.dz during the application period (23 July - 23 August 2026). The platform provides all information on participation requirements and evaluation criteria.
Before that, you must hold a valid label obtained through the startup.dz platform. If you don’t have one yet, start by understanding the legal framework and then apply, using our two guides Startups in Algeria and Ministerial Order 1275.
What does this award mean for Algeria’s ecosystem?
Beyond the prize money, this initiative builds a culture of recognizing excellence and sets a national benchmark for what a successful startup means: real innovation, a presence that crosses borders, and a tangible contribution to the economy. It is an invitation to every Algerian founder to raise their ambitions.
As an Algerian startup building digital tools to global standards, we welcome this step and see it as a natural extension of an ecosystem that is built here and competes out there. Learn about our vision for Algerian tools in the age of AI on the tkawen platform.
Algerian tools, global standards
TKAWEN is an Algerian startup building a digital ecosystem for the AI era. Discover the kind of ecosystem this award celebrates.
Explore the ecosystem →Frequently asked questions
What is the President of the Republic Award for Best Startup?
An annual national honor established by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and Startups under Presidential Decree 26-86 of 19 January 2026. It grants the state’s highest distinction to outstanding startups and innovative projects, with its first edition in 2026.
What are the award categories and prize amounts?
Three categories totaling 6 million dinars: Best Scale-up (DZD 3,000,000), Best Startup (DZD 2,000,000) and Best Innovative Project (DZD 1,000,000).
Who is eligible to apply?
Only holders of a valid “Innovative Project”, “Startup” or “Scale-up” label issued by the National Labeling Committee through the startup.dz platform; each applies in the category matching its highest label.
When and how do I apply?
From 23 July to 23 August 2026, exclusively through the startupoftheyear.dz digital platform, which provides all participation details and evaluation criteria.
When will the winners be announced?
The jury evaluates applications in September and October 2026, and winners are honored at an official ceremony in November 2026 during Global Entrepreneurship Week.