Geneva, 22 September 2026 – Astana has been selected as one of the 15 finalists of WIPO City of Innovation 2026, a new global award launched for the first time by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2026 to recognize cities making concrete commitments to advancing innovation and creativity. Kazakhstan's capital has become the only city from Central Asia represented among the finalists of the inaugural competition and is competing for the award for the first time.

The final features 15 cities from 11 countries around the world – Charleroi (Belgium), Shanghai (China), Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram (India), Amman and the Municipality of Bergish/Irbid (Jordan), Astana (Kazakhstan), Tetouan and Rabat (Morocco), Echague (Philippines), Caldas da Rainha (Portugal), Moscow (Russian Federation), Mueang Lamphun and Roi Et (Thailand), and Liverpool (United Kingdom).

With the support of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the WTO in Geneva, applications from three Kazakh cities were submitted to WIPO in June this year. Following an international selection process, Astana was chosen as one of the finalists of the inaugural WIPO City of Innovation competition.

On its official finalists' webpage, WIPO presents Astana as a city seeking to build a self-sustaining innovation ecosystem in which digital technologies directly respond to residents' needs and contemporary urban challenges. Key priorities highlighted include the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) powered Smart City, the creation of a single digital gateway for personalized public services, the strengthening of the innovation ecosystem, and the use of technology to advance sustainability and improve accessibility across the urban environment.

At the heart of Astana's application is a 12-month transformation programme. One of its central elements is Astana Smart City – an integrated intelligent urban management framework bringing together information systems, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, transport infrastructure, video streams and a digital twin of the city.

Another key priority is the development of astana.kz based on the “City as a Service” model, creating a unified digital environment where residents can access personalized services and interact with the city through an AI assistant. The capital also aims to develop a full innovation cycle, from education and startup acceleration to research and development (R&D) and bringing technological solutions to international markets.

Next Stop – Geneva

On 12 October 2026, WIPO Headquarters in Geneva will host the WIPO City of Innovation award ceremony, where up to three winning cities will be announced. The ceremony will take place on the sidelines of the sixth session of the United Nations Forum of Mayors.

The winning cities will gain an international platform to showcase their innovation initiatives, opportunities to expand engagement with the global innovation and intellectual property community, and additional visibility for their urban projects through WIPO's communication channels and information resources.

On 12 October in Geneva, it will be revealed whether Astana will become one of the first cities in history to receive the WIPO City of Innovation title.

Astana's selection as a finalist in WIPO's inaugural competition and its status as the only representative of Central Asia reflect growing international attention to the capital's initiatives in digitalization, artificial intelligence, Smart City development, sustainability and urban inclusiveness.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-wto/press/news/details/1300514?lang=ru