Kazakhstan Introduces Centralized Digital System for Inventors and Entrepreneurs
Unleashing Innovation in Astana: A Digital Revolution
Welcome to Astana, the bustling heart of Kazakhstan's tech revolution! The city's Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiyev, unveiled Astanahub.com — a digital powerhouse for innovators — during a recent government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
Photo credit: Prime Minister's press service
Astanahub is a game-changer, bridging the gap between scientists, startups, and businesses to access state support, fostering a harmonious ecosystem for progress. Already, deep tech startups have emerged from the Astana Hub ecosystem, generating over 10.6 billion tenge (US$21.6 million) and creating job opportunities for hundreds of people.
Madiyev also shared that 19 key business processes were refurbished as part of the digital transformation, streamlining research funding, accreditation certification, and incentivizing scientists. This overhaul has resulted in a whopping 70% boost in process efficiency.
As of now, 12 government services in the science sector are available online. By the end of 2024, over 15,000 government services will have been furnished, with 95% processed digitally.
Empowering the Minds of Tomorrow
In the realm of science and higher education, Minister Sayasat Nurbek revealed that the total economic contribution of scientific projects has surpassed 118.4 billion tenge (US$241.4 million). The dynamic science ecosystem comprises 25,500 scientists, nearly half of whom are under 40 years old, working across 425 research organizations.
Funding is being funneled into 264 scientific and technical programs, over 2,300 projects, and 208 commercialization initiatives. Moreover, over 1,400 scientists have completed international internships.
One of the notable initiatives is AI-Sana, a program geared towards accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) startups. This year, an impressive 650,000 students will embark on AI courses, with plans to enroll an additional 100,000 students in courses co-developed with Paul Kim, the chief technology officer of Stanford Graduate School of Education, by the end of the year. The ultimate goal is to establish between 1,000-1,500 AI-focused startup teams by the end of 2023.
Government funding for science has surged sixfold over the past six years, reaching 252.5 billion tenge (US$514.9 million) this year. Bektenov underscored that, per the Concept for the Development of Science until 2029, funding will continue to escalate to reach 1% of GDP.
A Mindful Embrace of AI
Although specific details about the "AI-Sana program" are currently scarce, it's clear that Kazakhstan is proactively investing in AI education and research. The nation recently drafted a new law regulating AI, aiming to create a responsible AI ecosystem across various sectors[2]. With a projected budget of 703.6 billion tenge (US$1.3 billion) for R&D between 2024 and 2026, the future of AI in Kazakhstan looks bright[3].
UNESCO is also involved in strengthening the futures literacy and foresight capacities of Kazakhstan's higher education sector, including AI[1]. Investor interest in AI education can be observed through initiatives like AI-powered learning tools, such as CodiPlay[5]. Kazakhstan's strategic focus is to foster homegrown AI solutions, supporting regional leadership in AI and adhering to global trends toward responsible AI governance[2][4].
Technology and artificial-intelligence (AI) play significant roles in the education and self-development sector in Astana, Kazakhstan. The government has launched AI-Sana, a program dedicated to accelerating AI startups, with 650,000 students enrolled in AI courses this year, aiming to develop between 1,000-1,500 AI-focused startup teams by 2023. Additionally, UNESCO is collaborating to strengthen futures literacy and foresight capacities, including AI, in Kazakhstan's higher education sector.
