Geneva, 30 June 2026 – Today, applications for three Kazakhstan cities, namely Astana, Karaganda and Qonaev, were submitted to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for consideration under the WIPO City of Innovation Award 2026, one of the prestigious international initiatives recognizing cities that are shaping a new architecture of innovative, sustainable and technology-driven development.

The nomination of three Kazakhstan cities on WIPO's global platform is an important signal that Kazakhstan is confidently moving beyond its national digital agenda and presenting to the world its own model of urban innovation, from AI and Smart City solutions to inclusive urban environments, sustainable tourism, the creative economy and new centers of investment attraction.

Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a country where innovation is becoming not an abstract goal, but a practical tool for transforming cities, improving citizens' quality of life and strengthening the competitiveness of its regions.

Astana is presented as a capital of the new generation, a city where digital transformation, artificial intelligence, the creative economy and sustainable urban development form the foundation of a modern model of governance and quality of life. Through Astana Smart City projects, the astana.kz platform and the development of R&D partnerships, the capital demonstrates its ambition to become one of Eurasia's leading innovation hubs.

Karaganda demonstrates how industrial potential can become the foundation for a digital leap. Traditionally known as one of Kazakhstan's industrial centers, the city is now building a new innovation identity through Smart City projects, artificial intelligence, video analytics and modern digital services.

Qonaev is positioning itself as a new point of attraction for innovation, investment and tourism in Kazakhstan. Having received the status of the administrative center of the Almaty Region, the city is entering a new stage of development and shaping an ambitious Smart Qonaev agenda, from digital municipal services and infrastructure modernization to environmental monitoring, tourism services and entrepreneurship support. This strategy is designed to transform Qonaev into one of the prominent centers of regional growth in Central Asia.

The participation of Astana, Karaganda and Qonaev in the WIPO City of Innovation Award 2026 marks an important step in promoting Kazakhstan as a country where innovation, intellectual property, digital technologies and the creative economy are becoming real drivers of urban development. Presenting different growth models, from a technology-driven capital and an industrial center to a new regional city of opportunities, Kazakhstan's cities demonstrate a comprehensive and ambitious agenda aimed at improving quality of life, advancing sustainable development and strengthening Kazakhstan's competitiveness on the international stage.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-wto/press/news/details/1250993?lang=ru