At the CEVF 2024 forum, experts raised the topic of a new stage in the synergy between the state, science, and business. Zhanbolat Kakishev, Executive Director of the QazTech Alliance of Technology Companies, explained in his speech at the round table why such cooperation is important. He then announced projects for the technological community that are already being worked on.
"We are deeply convinced of Kazakhstan's potential to become one of the leading technology centers in the region and successfully compete on the international stage, including in the CIS and Middle Eastern markets. However, to achieve this ambitious goal, effective interaction between business and government agencies is necessary," explained the Executive Director of the QazTech Alliance of Technology Companies.
According to Zhanbolat, the Alliance is currently working on three main areas. To learn more about them, we interviewed him. Here is what the Executive Director of the QazTech Alliance of Technology Companies had to say about the establishment of QazTech:
"Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich instructed to create a technological hub for the entire CIS and beyond, where IT startups and companies will be developed for further sale in the export market. But this requires a large program for the state, private business, and the scientific community. Meeting with them, we realized that each government body has its own idea of innovation, digital, and technological development. There is a lack of consistency in terminology. Different associations also have a narrow focus and no common alliance. Therefore, our goal is to integrate all technology leaders on our base and systematically develop measures that are important and interesting for promoting the entire technological sector.
One of QazTech's important missions is to raise public awareness of the development of Kazakhstan's technology sector, its issues, and its role in the country's economic development. We want to increase the interest of professional communities, the population, and government agencies in the development of the technology sector as one of the important pillars of the economy, alongside industry, the agricultural sector, and other sectors."
Одной из важных миссий QazTech заключается повышение осведомленности общества о развитии технологического сектора Казахстана, его проблематике и роли в экономическом развитии страны. Нам важно повысить интерес профессиональных сообществ, населения и госорганов в развитии технологического сектора как одного из важных столпов экономики, наряду с промышленностью, агросектором и другими отраслями."
Data-Driven Decisions for Government and Business
Making decisions based on reliable data and detailed analysis is a condition for the success of both state policy and any business strategy.
One of QazTech's key tasks is to create a system for collecting and processing reliable data, expert opinions, and analysis, helping to make informed decisions and achieve planned results in both public administration and business.
Kazakhstan's state and private research centers have accumulated unique expertise in innovation policy and have gained experience in implementing international studies and projects involving leading foreign specialists. Therefore, it is now important to consolidate the accumulated knowledge and experience, as well as to unite the efforts of research centers, government agencies, and the private sector, to promote the formation of a sustainable and competitive innovation ecosystem.
This will help Kazakhstan integrate into international technology chains and strengthen the significance of our country on the world stage.
Digital Law Center
Kazakhstan faces a rapidly growing number of cyberattacks and fraud. A significant share of threats in B2B consists of ransomware programs that encrypt important data of organizations. More than 96% of organizations worldwide have experienced phishing attacks at least once. However, due to the novelty of the field, not all aspects are regulated, and there is a shortage of specialists who can practically counter these threats. There are separate lawyers and technocrats, but very few specializing in digital law. Therefore, the QazTech Alliance has set the task of training experts in the digital field.
"Currently, work is underway with the relevant Ministry of Digital Development and Aerospace Industry, members of Parliament, and the expert community to develop a number of legislative acts, including the Digital Code. We hope that very soon the public will be presented with a set of laws and regulations that will govern the activities of the IT community and propose systematic measures in the field of cybersecurity. It is known that the technological sphere is particularly sensitive to regulatory impact. Therefore, the Digital Code will not obligate startups and programmers to follow overly strict rules: everything is created to make their work even more efficient and the industry prosperous," explains Zhanbolat.
"We are deeply convinced of Kazakhstan's potential to become one of the leading technology centers in the region and successfully compete on the international stage, including in the CIS and Middle Eastern markets. However, to achieve this ambitious goal, effective interaction between business and government agencies is necessary," explained the Executive Director of the QazTech Alliance of Technology Companies.
According to Zhanbolat, the Alliance is currently working on three main areas. To learn more about them, we interviewed him. Here is what the Executive Director of the QazTech Alliance of Technology Companies had to say about the establishment of QazTech:
"Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich instructed to create a technological hub for the entire CIS and beyond, where IT startups and companies will be developed for further sale in the export market. But this requires a large program for the state, private business, and the scientific community. Meeting with them, we realized that each government body has its own idea of innovation, digital, and technological development. There is a lack of consistency in terminology. Different associations also have a narrow focus and no common alliance. Therefore, our goal is to integrate all technology leaders on our base and systematically develop measures that are important and interesting for promoting the entire technological sector.
One of QazTech's important missions is to raise public awareness of the development of Kazakhstan's technology sector, its issues, and its role in the country's economic development. We want to increase the interest of professional communities, the population, and government agencies in the development of the technology sector as one of the important pillars of the economy, alongside industry, the agricultural sector, and other sectors."
Одной из важных миссий QazTech заключается повышение осведомленности общества о развитии технологического сектора Казахстана, его проблематике и роли в экономическом развитии страны. Нам важно повысить интерес профессиональных сообществ, населения и госорганов в развитии технологического сектора как одного из важных столпов экономики, наряду с промышленностью, агросектором и другими отраслями."
Data-Driven Decisions for Government and Business
Making decisions based on reliable data and detailed analysis is a condition for the success of both state policy and any business strategy.
One of QazTech's key tasks is to create a system for collecting and processing reliable data, expert opinions, and analysis, helping to make informed decisions and achieve planned results in both public administration and business.
Kazakhstan's state and private research centers have accumulated unique expertise in innovation policy and have gained experience in implementing international studies and projects involving leading foreign specialists. Therefore, it is now important to consolidate the accumulated knowledge and experience, as well as to unite the efforts of research centers, government agencies, and the private sector, to promote the formation of a sustainable and competitive innovation ecosystem.
This will help Kazakhstan integrate into international technology chains and strengthen the significance of our country on the world stage.
Digital Law Center
Kazakhstan faces a rapidly growing number of cyberattacks and fraud. A significant share of threats in B2B consists of ransomware programs that encrypt important data of organizations. More than 96% of organizations worldwide have experienced phishing attacks at least once. However, due to the novelty of the field, not all aspects are regulated, and there is a shortage of specialists who can practically counter these threats. There are separate lawyers and technocrats, but very few specializing in digital law. Therefore, the QazTech Alliance has set the task of training experts in the digital field.
"Currently, work is underway with the relevant Ministry of Digital Development and Aerospace Industry, members of Parliament, and the expert community to develop a number of legislative acts, including the Digital Code. We hope that very soon the public will be presented with a set of laws and regulations that will govern the activities of the IT community and propose systematic measures in the field of cybersecurity. It is known that the technological sphere is particularly sensitive to regulatory impact. Therefore, the Digital Code will not obligate startups and programmers to follow overly strict rules: everything is created to make their work even more efficient and the industry prosperous," explains Zhanbolat.
QAZTECH - 100 CLUB
The third priority is the QAZTECH - 100 club, which will unite outstanding technology companies in Kazakhstan and help them establish dialogue with the country's largest enterprises. This includes B2B marketing of technology companies and solutions, simplifying procurement procedures, legislation, and recommendations for improving the technology business environment. In particular, it will help establish communications with large companies such as Qarmet, Kazahmys, ERG, and the Samruk-Kazyna group.
The club will serve as a platform for business development, enabling technology companies to actively optimize the operations of the largest enterprises, gain experience, and enter export markets by solving technological problems for clients. Additionally, QazTech 100 will provide an opportunity to consolidate industry-specific recommendations for government agencies on effective regulation to grow the market:
QazTech has already determined the mechanism for selecting and admitting technology companies to the club. According to the plan, companies joining the club will give interviews for various resources. Then, resident club participants will attend meetings where leaders of large enterprises will be present so that technology companies can understand their tasks and propose solutions.
Can cooperation accelerate the development of the technology business? It is likely that thanks to the activities of the QazTech Alliance of Technology Companies, this will happen. How do you feel about stopping competition and starting to collaborate with other market players to develop your technology business?
The third priority is the QAZTECH - 100 club, which will unite outstanding technology companies in Kazakhstan and help them establish dialogue with the country's largest enterprises. This includes B2B marketing of technology companies and solutions, simplifying procurement procedures, legislation, and recommendations for improving the technology business environment. In particular, it will help establish communications with large companies such as Qarmet, Kazahmys, ERG, and the Samruk-Kazyna group.
The club will serve as a platform for business development, enabling technology companies to actively optimize the operations of the largest enterprises, gain experience, and enter export markets by solving technological problems for clients. Additionally, QazTech 100 will provide an opportunity to consolidate industry-specific recommendations for government agencies on effective regulation to grow the market:
- Localization and in-country value
- Working capital financing
- Export support
QazTech has already determined the mechanism for selecting and admitting technology companies to the club. According to the plan, companies joining the club will give interviews for various resources. Then, resident club participants will attend meetings where leaders of large enterprises will be present so that technology companies can understand their tasks and propose solutions.
Can cooperation accelerate the development of the technology business? It is likely that thanks to the activities of the QazTech Alliance of Technology Companies, this will happen. How do you feel about stopping competition and starting to collaborate with other market players to develop your technology business?