Almaty Region Launches Alatau Hub Innovation Center for Economic Development
The Alatau Hub regional innovation center was officially launched on May 15 in Konayev town, the Almaty Region, reported the press service of the Astana Hub International Technopark of IT Startups.
The opening of the Alatau Hub was celebrated with an exhibition showcasing large IT companies from across the country. Like other regional innovation centers nationwide, the hub will broadcast educational and incubation programs of the Astana Hub.
It will serve as the main platform for various events, including meetups, Pizza Pitch, workshops, Speaker Talks, and Idea Battle, which will foster the growth of the IT community in the region and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience.
With the launch of the 14th regional center, the Astana Hub aims to cover all regions by the end of the year. Each regional IT hub will have community managers who will assist individuals looking to develop their skills in the IT field.
Business sponsorship has played a significant role in supporting these initiatives. For example, the Mangystau Hub in Aktau received support from the Sergek Group, while Freedom Finance allocated funds for the establishment of the Aqtobe IT Hub. The sponsorship of IT companies Sergek Group and Integra helped in the launch of the Alatau Hub.
According to Aida Dussova, head of the regional development office at the Astana Hub, over 1,000 events have been hosted in regional hubs and more than 300 startup ideas have been presented since 2023.
“Eighty IT companies nationwide have become participants in our technopark. We also launch various programs specifically for regional hubs in partnership with organizations such as Google Developers Group, USAID, Digital Nomads, and inDrive. These programs include webinars, competitions, hackathons, and we are also working on developing game development in the regions of Kazakhstan,” she said.
Kazakhstan’s IT hub network now includes 14 regions. Alongside the Alatau Hub, upcoming additions include IT hubs in Atyrau, Shymkent, Zhezkazgan, Petropavlovsk, and Zhanaozen, which are expected to be operational by the end of the year.
