Kazakhstan’s innovation ecosystem faces several challenges related to the need for creating conditions for sustainable development and integration into global technology chains. The main challenges include insufficient synergy between scientific institutions and businesses, limited investment in research and development, and weak development of startup culture. At the same time, the country’s potential is significant due to its rich natural resources, young and educated population, and growing infrastructure to support innovation.

The prospects for development lie in strengthening government support and encouraging private investment in innovative projects, improving the regulatory environment, and creating favorable conditions for technology transfer and commercialization of scientific developments. Optimizing interaction between academic, entrepreneurial, and governmental structures could become a key factor in accelerating Kazakhstan’s innovation development.

To address this issue and accelerate the integration of science and business, Kendala has launched an initiative led by experienced scientist-entrepreneurs to create a network of integrative coworking spaces, KENDALA, within universities in the SPECA region, where there is a substantial amount of underutilized space, as well as private startup houses. These ecosystems will serve as spaces where scientists and entrepreneurs can interact, exchange knowledge, and collaborate on the commercialization of scientific developments.