A project that began with the idea of a “smart hydropost” developed by Kazakhstani engineers is now entering the global stage. Kazakhstan’s startup Ozen-M and Chinese company Lihero have signed a strategic partnership agreement in the field of digital environmental monitoring.

The two sides agreed not only on the deployment of Ozen-M solutions across Kazakhstan but also on the establishment of a Lihero representative office in Astana — the company’s first location outside China.

Lihero specializes in the development and implementation of continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS), as well as air and water quality monitoring technologies for industrial facilities. Now, its portfolio will be complemented by a collaboration with Ozen-M, a digital platform that enables real-time environmental data tracking from hydrological stations across the country.

As part of the agreement, the parties will create a joint venture based at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and launch a large-scale project to deploy 848 smart hydroposts throughout Kazakhstan.

The initiative aims to modernize water monitoring infrastructure, enhance data accuracy, reduce operational costs through process optimization, and promote the solutions within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework. The partners are also exploring opportunities to expand the project into other Central Asian markets.

The initiative is being implemented with the support of IGTIC and is part of its green technology acceleration program. Ozen-M continues to strengthen its position as one of Kazakhstan’s flagship digital transformation projects in the field of sustainable development.