For the further effective growth of Astana Hub, several organizational issues need to be addressed. This is the opinion of deputy Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva, as reported by the correspondent of the business information center Kapital.kz.
“To date, approximately 1.5 billion tenge from the state budget is allocated for the maintenance of the self-sufficient Astana Hub. The entire amount goes directly to rent premises from the quasi-state enterprise JSC 'Kazexpocongress.' This amount is significantly inflated compared to the actual maintenance costs. Moreover, Astana Hub is a rare tech park that does not have its own premises,” she stated.
In global practice, similar organizations possess their own buildings and even territories, which are an integral part of their ecosystem.
“The most profitable startup in Kazakhstan was created by a guy from Ust-Kamenogorsk. Currently, it brings him 20 million dollars a year (export). We do not know how many such individuals are starting their journeys in the regions today, but they certainly exist. Therefore, it is critically important to develop a regional network of hubs, which is still in its infancy,” the deputy believes.
In her inquiry, Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva noted that organized demand is crucial for the growth of the industry within the country. The largest customer in the domestic market remains the state. However, applying a special procedure for government procurement in the IT sector is highly problematic. Additionally, a procedure for determining the financial sustainability of tax-exempt residents of Astana Hub has yet to be developed, even though there is a corresponding provision in the law.
“As a result, our domestic market, despite having its own solutions, relies on imports. Who are we nurturing our entrepreneurs for? In the case of digital products, this is not only an economic issue but also a question of technological sovereignty. For several years now, there has been a fierce battle for 1% of the budget from subsoil users, intended for R&D. Meanwhile, while everyone is 'dividing the skin of a bear that hasn't been killed yet,' the level of science and innovation continues to stagnate, if not decline,” she declared.
According to her, to avoid becoming hostages to foreign innovative solutions and to retain talent, it is necessary to change the pace and approaches. Therefore, the system of supply and demand in financing applied science and innovation should be transparent, mobile, and accessible.
To maintain the competitive advantage of the IT industry, Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva proposed:
- transfer the leased premises to the tech park's balance for independent management and maintenance, ceasing budget allocations for these purposes;
- redirect the freed-up 1.5 billion tenge towards the development of IT education and initiatives in the regions;
- develop a methodology for assessing the level of localization of software products for the government procurement system and, based on this, provide support measures for local developers through registers of trusted software and a registry of domestic producers;
- evaluate the financial sustainability of Astana Hub residents based on their mandatory contributions to the tech park for residency;
- provide a 'dedicated lane' in government procurement for domestic startups, especially in the AI sector – winners of open competitive selections.
- integrate the subsoil users' fund with a single window for innovations to ensure accessibility and transparency in the distribution of funds for research and innovation projects aimed at improving production.
“Innovations are born where there is support and belief in one's own strengths. Kazakhstani IT developers have already proven that they can create world-class solutions. However, for their work to benefit not only foreign markets but also their own country, it is essential to continue creating conditions for growth, experimentation, and the implementation of advanced technologies,” she concluded.
In her inquiry to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, the deputy reminded that the number of participants in the tech park has exceeded 1,500 companies, employing more than 26,000 specialists. The revenue of residents for 2024 amounted to 1.3 billion dollars.
Earlier, the Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, Jaslan Madiyev, reported that Kazakhstan's IT exports for the first nine months of 2024 amounted to 471 million dollars. This is 26% more than in the same period of 2023. It was also noted that today Astana Hub is represented in all regions, with 150 out of 1,500 companies in Astana Hub working in the AI field or utilizing artificial intelligence technologies.