Astana has officially become the epicenter of innovation in Central Asia. Today, the EXPO International Exhibition Center hosted the grand opening of ALEM TECH FEST 2026 - the region’s largest robotics and STEM festival, bringing together more than 5,000 school students from seven countries. The event’s general partner is Samruk-Kazyna, DKNews.kz reports.
Spanning 15,000 square meters, the massive tech forum will run from February 11 to 13. Its mission is ambitious: to foster a culture of innovative thinking and prepare the next generation of technological leaders. Over the next three days, participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong will present projects in artificial intelligence, drone engineering, and robotics.
The festival is organized by USTEM Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RSPC “Daryn”).
The project is implemented with strategic support from the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Defense (within the Smart Sarbaz initiative), and the innovation cluster Astana Hub.
Innovation as the Foundation of Industry
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Gibrat Auganov, Managing Director of Samruk-Kazyna, emphasized the strategic importance of technological development:
“In the Samruk-Kazyna group of companies, 250,000 people are employed. These are major industrial enterprises that serve as the backbone of the national economy. For such a large-scale system to develop effectively, the integration of artificial intelligence and digital technologies into production is a key requirement of the future. Participants of Alem Tech Fest are not only talented innovators and inventors, but also specialists who will modernize production and contribute directly to the country’s development tomorrow. Your ideas today may well be implemented tomorrow in factories, in energy, in transport and logistics, and in digital systems. Projects like this are investments in the country’s future. That is why Samruk-Kazyna considers youth support and human capital development to be among its top priorities and is proud to serve as the general partner of this event.”
Building a Digital Ecosystem
Bakhtiyar Mukhametkaliyev, Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, highlighted the broader impact of the festival on Kazakhstan’s digital transformation:
“Alem Tech Fest is, first and foremost, a unique ecosystem of engineering thinking and teamwork. Here, our children and young people are forming as future engineers and specialists in artificial intelligence. The festival features a large number of international participants and a wide range of disciplines. The younger generation is truly talented, and we see a strong interest in digitalization and robotics. It is very important to continue developing these initiatives consistently. Today, I wish all participants inspiration, bold ideas, and major achievements.”
Engineering Talent and National Security
Deputy Minister of Defense Darkhan Akhmediev also addressed participants, stressing the importance of engineering expertise for national security:
“For our ministry and for the entire country, this is an event of high importance. Today, not only weapons matter, but also engineering competencies. That is why we view young engineers as a significant talent reserve. I wish all participants productive work and valuable experience in the coming days. I am confident that this festival will open new opportunities for professional cooperation and meaningful connections.”
International Recognition
The festival’s global status was underscored by the presence of Greg Needel, CEO of REV Robotics, who traveled from the United States to personally assess the level of Kazakhstan’s teams.
“I have visited many countries, meeting students passionate about engineering and innovation, and Kazakhstan continues to stand out on the global stage. For the past four years, the national team has won at the highest level of FIRST Global. That consistency reflects strong leadership, dedicated mentors, and students willing to work hard and think boldly. After seeing these results year after year, I knew I wanted to come here in person and see how this community builds such excellence. This week, I am especially excited not only to watch the competitions, but also to meet many of you, see your robots, hear about your ideas, and learn from you.”
Three Days of Competition and Ambition
The opening ceremony culminated in a parade of teams from seven countries. Under loud applause, young engineers officially began their quest for championship titles.
Participants will compete in the Central Asia FIRST Championship, drone races within the Alem Drone League, humanoid robot tournaments in RoboCup Soccer, and high-intensity battles in the Battle of Bots section.
The festival runs through February 13. Winners of the national stage will earn the right to represent Kazakhstan at the FIRST Championship World Finals in Houston, USA, where more than 50,000 participants from around the globe will gather.
With thousands of young innovators under one roof, ALEM TECH FEST 2026 is more than a competition. It is a statement - that Central Asia is not just consuming technology, but creating it.
