The Kostanay region has reinforced its position as one of Kazakhstan’s emerging hubs of digital transformation through the large-scale “QOSTANAI TECH” festival, which brought together more than 10,000 participants and effectively turned the city into an open technological platform.

The event united representatives of business, science, industry, education, and the IT sector, along with students and young innovators. For several days, Kostanay functioned as a live technological ecosystem where innovation was not only presented but actively demonstrated in real interaction with the public.

Opening the festival, Akim of Kostanay Region Kumar Aksakalov emphasized that digitalization and artificial intelligence have become the key drivers of regional economic development. Today, the region ranks fourth in Kazakhstan in manufacturing output, with over 70% of its economy generated by this sector. The industrial landscape already includes 145 operational industrial robots, along with the active implementation of digital management systems and AI-based solutions.

The agricultural sector has also undergone significant digital transformation: 100% of arable land, 90% of pastures, and 95% of hayfields have been digitized. As a result, losses have decreased by 40%, productivity has increased by 30%, and operational costs have been reduced by 15%.

The international program featured TED-style sessions with leading global and national experts. A highlight was an online address by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rae Kwon Chung, who stressed that the future of education must be grounded not only in knowledge and skills but also in values and sustainable development principles.

A defining feature of the festival was its integration into urban space. Public areas across the city were transformed into open innovation zones featuring scientific experiments, engineering demonstrations, robotics showcases, and drone technologies. The Youth Palace was reimagined as an immersive “smart city” environment with interactive digital installations.

Strong interest was drawn to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and drone football — a rapidly developing tech sport gaining popularity in Kazakhstan. At the same time, student teams developed AI-based digital solutions and presented prototypes addressing real-sector challenges during a dedicated hackathon.

The festival also marked the launch of industrial tourism in the region, offering participants guided visits to major manufacturing sites, including Allur, KIA, and Agromash plants, where they observed full production cycles.

“QOSTANAI TECH” ultimately positioned Kostanay not only as an industrial region, but as a growing ecosystem where education, technology, and innovation converge to shape a new economic model for Kazakhstan.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanay/press/news/details/1211810?lang=kk