Kazakh Startup Becomes Prize Winner in Vienna

Within the framework of the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum, jointly organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, the Kazakh startup HydroTech Atm became a prize winner of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) international competition.

Particular attention was drawn to the fact that the founder and CEO of the HydroTech Atm project, Dana Kadyrbek, is the youngest and the only participant in the GCIP programme aged 17. Despite her young age, Dana has developed a fully autonomous device for producing clean drinking water from the atmosphere based on nanomaterials. Her technology is already undergoing pilot implementation in Kazakhstan, including laboratory testing and cooperation with relevant governmental and scientific institutions.

In addition, Dana Kadyrbek participated as a speaker in the plenary session entitled «Securing the Green Transformation: Resilient Technologies and Infrastructure», where she presented her project and its key advantages to an international audience.

The international recognition of the HydroTech Atm project demonstrates the high potential of young Kazakh innovators and confirms Kazakhstan’s ability to offer relevant technological solutions in response to global challenges in water security, environmental protection and climate.

 The Republic of Kazakhstan became the first country in Central Asia to join the GCIP programme. In December 2025, a national competition of climate startups was held under the GCIP-Kazakhstan programme, where HydroTech Atm, SpaceLab and Forest Hero were selected as prize winners. These startups represented Kazakhstan at the global finals of Cleantech Days 2026 in Vienna.