As part of the SCO Year of Sustainable Development and in celebration of the UN-designated World Creativity and Innovation Day, the 4th Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition of SCO Member States was held in the Chinese city of Qingdao. The event brought together leading representatives of the region’s scientific and startup communities, becoming a showcase of cutting-edge ideas aimed at solving global challenges.
The competition aims not only to promote young entrepreneurs, but to build an intergovernmental ecosystem for innovative cooperation — with sustainability, digitalization, and environmental solutions at its core.
Opening remarks were delivered by Han Shouxin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Qingdao, and representatives of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology. Kairat Baitassov, Advisor to the SCO Secretariat, emphasized that each project presented was “not just a business idea, but a concrete response to the challenges of the 21st century — from artificial intelligence to sustainable energy.”
Kazakhstan on the international cleantech stage
Kazakhstan’s delegation made a strong impression at the forum. Three startups that completed the GCIP-Kazakhstan acceleration program, implemented at the International Center for Green Technologies and Investment Projects (IGTIPC), were named among the finalists and recognized by the competition jury.
Third place was awarded to the Science and Technology Water Center for its development of a “self-sustaining technology for decarbonization and wastewater treatment” — a practical solution in the field of industrial ecology.
Smart Energy Solutions received a Special Achievement Award for its innovative AMI Data Analytics platform designed to support digital transformation in energy systems.
The project Kaz-REEcycling, which focuses on recovering critical materials from electronic waste, became a finalist, offering a promising approach to circular economy solutions.
GCIP-Kazakhstan and IGTIPC: Local Impact with Global Reach
Kazakhstan’s participation in this prestigious international competition reflects the maturity and ambition of the country’s cleantech sector. The GCIP-Kazakhstan program, implemented by IGTIPC with support from global partners, continues to fulfill its core mission — to support, scale, and commercialize solutions that drive economic growth, ecological resilience, and technological modernization.
According to Mr. Saken Kalkamanov, Acting Chairman of the Board of IGTIPC, “Kazakhstan reaffirms its important role in shaping a unified scientific and innovation space within the SCO region. Today, the country is not only a consumer of technological solutions but also an exporter of ecological values — transforming the economy through intellect, entrepreneurship, and strategic cooperation.”
