QOSTANAI TECH: AI technologies drive regional development

Kostanay has emerged as a key focal point of the country’s technological agenda. The city recently hosted the large-scale "QOSTANAI TECH" festival, which attracted over 10,000 participants and effectively transformed the city into an open-air platform for digital industries.

The festival brought together representatives from business, science, industry, IT, and education, as well as school and university students. For several days, Kostanay operated as a "living technopark," where technologies were not merely demonstrated but applied through real-time interaction with the audience.

Opening the event, the Akim (Governor) of the Kostanay region, Kumar Aksakalov, emphasized that digitalization and artificial intelligence are becoming the foundation of the region's economic development. Today, the region ranks fourth in the country in terms of manufacturing volume, with this sector accounting for more than 70% of the regional economy. Currently, 145 industrial robots are deployed in the region, and digital management systems and AI elements are being actively implemented.

Significant changes are also taking place in the agricultural sector: 100% of arable land, 90% of pastures, and 95% of hayfields have been digitized. These measures have resulted in a 40% reduction in losses, a 30% increase in crop yields, and a 15% reduction in costs.

The international segment of the festival featured TED-style presentations by experts from various countries. A key highlight was an online address by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rae Kwon Chung, who noted that the future of education must be based not only on knowledge but also on values and sustainable development.

The city-wide portion of the festival drew particular interest. Central public spaces in Kostanay were converted into open demonstration zones featuring science shows, engineering workshops, liquid nitrogen experiments, and exhibitions of robotics and unmanned systems. An immersive digital environment in a "smart city" format, complete with LED installations and interactive technologies, was created at the "Zhastar Saraiy" (Youth Palace).