Astana hosted the National Forum GCIP Kazakhstan 2024, the final of the prestigious acceleration program Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP), organized with the support of UNIDO. The forum became an important event for startups in the field of sustainable technologies, where unique environmental projects aimed at solving urgent environmental problems were presented.
The forum began with a welcoming speech by the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, E. Nysanbayev, who emphasized the importance of introducing green technologies for the sustainable development of the country. Also speaking was E. Zhangbyrshin, Chairman of the Committee on Ecology and Nature Management of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who noted the role of the forum in promoting environmental initiatives.
The forum included a panel session on the topic “Prospects for the Development of Clean, Green Technologies in Kazakhstan and the World”, where participants, including D. Karimsakov, Chairman of the Board of the International Center for Green Technologies and Investment Projects (IGTIC), R. Zhemkov, CEO of CAICA, M. Gijduaniev and others, discussed global trends and opportunities for Kazakhstan in the field of green technologies.
A key moment of the forum was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between IGTIC and TusHoldings, a Chinese innovation leader that manages giants such as Xiaomi, Lenovo and ByteDance (TikTok), as well as Zagreb Innovation Centre Ltd. These partnerships will open up new opportunities for Kazakhstani startups in the field of green technologies, providing access to international experience and resources.
The forum participants also took part in a workshop by the authoritative research company Cleantech Group, where recommendations for the development of green technologies in Kazakhstan and the adaptation of best international practices were discussed. As part of the business game “UN Summit”, the participants immersed themselves in negotiations on climate issues and strategies to combat climate change.
At Demo Day, large Kazakhstani enterprises such as Kazakhmys, Kazzinc, ERG presented their technological challenges to startups, and within the framework of Investor Connect, startups were able to present their innovations to investors and discuss possible cooperation.
The forum concluded with an award ceremony for the winners who demonstrated the best projects and solutions in the field of sustainable technologies. The winners of the forum received grants and the opportunity to represent Kazakhstan at the global final in Istanbul in 2025.
GCIP Kazakhstan is the only program in Central Asia that supports startups in the field of environmentally friendly technologies. GCIP is being implemented in Kazakhstan along with 15 countries around the world, such as Turkey, South Africa, Indonesia, Nigeria and others. This year, 27 innovative projects were selected for the acceleration program, which can become the engine of change not only in Kazakhstan, but also throughout the world.
One of the notable moments of the Forum was the planting of plant seeds by E. Nysanbaev and E. Zhambyrshin. The badges for the participants were made of decomposable material that contained flower seeds. Each badge came with instructions on planting.
https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ecogeo/press/news/details/901655?lang=ru
