Astana was included in the list of 15 finalists for the international «WIPO City of Innovation – 2026» award, established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The award aims to support cities developing an innovative and creative ecosystem, with the selection conducted by an international independent jury based on the initiatives and implementation plans presented by the cities.
Applications were received from cities of various sizes worldwide, and alongside Astana, the 15 finalists include cities from Belgium, China, India, Jordan, Morocco, the Philippines, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
The winners will be announced on October 12, 2026, at a ceremony at WIPO headquarters in Geneva, taking place on the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the UN Mayors Forum.
Source: Website of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), https://www.wipo.int/ru/web/awards/city-of-innovation.
As part of the 68th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), held in Geneva from 7 to 10 July 2026, Chair of the Committee of Intellectual Property Rights of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sholpan Abdreyeva held a series of working meetings with representatives of WIPO divisions on key areas of future cooperation.
On 8 July, she met with Habip Asan, Director ofWIPO's Division for Transition and DevelopedCountries. The discussion focused on strategic areas of cooperation between Kazakhstan and WIPO, including the further development of the national intellectual property system, the implementation of joint initiatives and Kazakhstan's participation in the Organization's regional cooperation formats.
A separate set of discussions was devoted to thejudicial protection of intellectual property rights. During a meeting held on 8 July with a representativeof the WIPO Judicial Institute, the parties discussedfurther avenues of cooperation in light of Kazakhstan'sactive participation in the Organization's judicialinitiatives. It was noted that this year Kazakhstan isrepresented for the first time on the WIPO JudgesAdvisory Board and continues to engage with WIPO through judicial events for judges from Central Asiancountries.
Also on 8 July, a meeting was held with representatives of WIPO's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Department to discuss issues related to the filing of international applications by applicants from the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as prospects for further cooperation in this area.
During a meeting on 9 July with representatives of the WIPO Academy, the parties reviewed the next steps for implementing the signed Letter of Intent on the establishment of a WIPO regional training centre which is intended to serve as a platform for specialist training, capacity-building and the exchange of experience in the field of intellectual property for countries of the region.
Particular attention during the meetings was alsogiven to copyright matters. At a meeting on 9 July withrepresentatives of the WIPO Accessible BooksConsortium, the parties discussed practical aspects ofimplementing the Marrakesh Treaty and expandingaccess to works in accessible formats for persons withvisual impairments and other print disabilities. Thisagenda was further advanced by Sholpan Abdreyeva'sparticipation on 10 July in the WIPO Connect eventdedicated to the digital management of copyright andrelated rights.
In addition, a number of working meetings wereheld on the sidelines of the Assemblies with relevantWIPO divisions on issues of further practicalcooperation.
These meetings were aimed at further strengtheningKazakhstan's cooperation with WIPO, expandingregional coordination and advancing practical initiativesin the judicial, educational, patent and copyright fields.
Following the conclusion of the current series of Assemblies, the coordination of the Group of Central Asia, the Caucasus and Eastern Europe (CACEEC) will pass to Kazakhstan reflecting the country's growing role in shaping a common regional agenda in the field of intellectual property.
On 10 July 2026, the WIPO Global Awards 2026 ceremony took place in Geneva on the sidelines of the 68th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The WIPO Global Awards are among the Organization's most prestigious international distinctions in the field of innovation and intellectual property.
The Awards are presented annually to small and medium-sized enterprises and startups that not only develop innovative technological solutions but also use intellectual property effectively as a tool for business growth, attracting investment and entering international markets. In 2026, the competition received around 1,300 applications from 126 countries and following a multi-stage selection process an international jury selected 33 finalists.
Of particular significance for Kazakhstan is the fact that Mirai Tech, a Kazakhstani high-tech startup working at the intersection of medical and sports technologies, was named among the finalists of the competition. The company ranked among the top three finalists in the special "Sport" category, introduced by WIPO in 2026 as part of the theme of World Intellectual Property Day.
In this new category Mirai Tech represented the Republic of Kazakhstan alongside companies from the United States and Switzerland demonstrating the strong potential of Kazakhstan's innovation in artificial intelligence, biomechanics and sports medicine.
Although the winner in this category was a company from Switzerland, Mirai Tech's advancement to the finals of the WIPO Global Awards marks an important international achievement for Kazakhstan's innovation ecosystem and demonstrates that technological solutions from Kazakhstan are capable of competing successfully at the global level.
Mirai Tech is a Kazakhstani deep-tech startup founded in Astana that develops smart nano-insoles with integrated autonomous sensors for medical rehabilitation, sports medicine and physical load monitoring. The technology enables the real-time collection and analysis of biomechanical data on human movement and its application in patient rehabilitation, sports injury prevention and the improvement of training efficiency.
Mirai Tech's participation in the WIPO Global Awards finals enhances the international visibility of Kazakhstan's innovation projects and opens up additional opportunities for promoting technological developments from Kazakhstan on the global market.
On the sidelines of the 68th series of meetings of the Assemblies of the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerlan Sarsembayev held a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Korea and the Eurasian Patent Organization.
With the Minister of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Supratman Andi Agtas, the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan discussed the development of interdepartmental cooperation in the field of intellectual property, digitalization of public administration, legal regulation of artificial intelligence and training. They also considered approaches to the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation, which should create an institutional basis for the implementation of joint educational, expert and technological initiatives.
During the meeting with the Deputy Head of the Judiciary and the Head of the State Organization for Registration of Acts and Property of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Babai, issues of improving national intellectual property systems, digitalization of registration procedures, law enforcement and protection of copyright holders were considered. The parties confirmed their readiness to expand direct contacts between specialized units, exchange practical and expert experience, as well as develop a professional dialogue on judicial protection of intellectual property.
Prospects for deepening bilateral partnership were discussed with the Minister of Intellectual Property of the Republic of Korea Kim Yang Sun. The Kazakh side congratulated the Korean partners on the creation of a specialized Ministry of Intellectual Property and positively assessed the results of a joint project to protect intellectual property in the digital environment. Special attention was paid to the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding between the relevant ministries, the use of artificial intelligence, the development of digital platforms, the training of specialists and joint educational and expert events.
Within the framework of the meeting with the President of the Eurasian Patent Office of the Eurasian Patent Organization Grigory Ivliev, the main attention was paid to the issues of digital transformation, improving the quality of patent expertise and expanding the mechanisms for supporting applicants. Kazakhstan expressed interest in popularizing the EAPO financial assistance program among inventors, scientific organizations, universities, startups and small and medium-sized businesses.
The talks confirmed mutual interest in expanding practical cooperation, exchanging advanced solutions and further developing a modern, technological and international partnership-oriented intellectual property system.
On 7 July 2026 in Geneva, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerlan Sarsembayev took part in the opening of the 68th series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and delivered a statement on behalf of the Kazakh delegation, setting out Kazakhstan's key priorities for the further development of the intellectual property system.
A landmark event in Kazakhstan's participation in this year's Assemblies became the opening of the country exhibition of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “Heritage of the Great Steppe”, held the following day at WIPO headquarters with participation of the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the World Trade Organization and International Economic Organizations Kairat Torebayev, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva Yerzhan Kazykhan as well as other distinguished guests.
The ceremony brought together WIPO Director General Daren Tang, heads and representatives of foreign delegations and participants in the Assemblies. For Kazakhstan the exhibition holds particular significance as it presents the country as a nation that carefully preserves its rich cultural heritage while reimagining it through modern technologies, creative interpretation and new forms of international cultural engagement.
The exhibition showcases the depth and diversity of Kazakhstan's cultural legacy as a living foundation of national identity and contemporary creative expression. It features decorative and applied arts, elements of traditional costume, musical instruments and objects of everyday nomadic life.
At the heart of the exhibition is the immersive multimedia installation “Masterpieces of Kazakhstan’s Painting” presented in cooperation with the Abylkhan Kasteyev National Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The project brings together outstanding works of Kazakh visual art and modern digital technologies, offering international audiences a new way to experience and appreciate the country's artistic heritage.
The cultural programme featured the ethno-folk ensemble “Joshy Qazaq National Group”, which combined the traditional sound of Kazakh instruments with a contemporary stage performance. Guests were also introduced to Kazakhstan's rich gastronomic traditions.
The “Heritage of the Great Steppe” exhibition will remain on display at WIPO headquarters until 15 July 2026 and forms an important part of the cultural programme of the Assemblies, reflecting Kazakhstan's commitment to promoting its historical and creative heritage on the international stage.
Geneva, 1-5 December 2025 - Botagoz Zhaxelekova, Vice Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, participated in the 47th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). In her opening statement she expressed gratitude to the WIPO leadership for the productive organization of the session and for the support provided to Kazakhstan’s ongoing reforms in the area of intellectual property.
Delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan presented to the session participants an overview of national reforms, including the rollout of the Unified Digital Platform (UDP), a tool designed to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in the collective rights management system. The platform was also introduced to international professional associations interested in modern digital solutions and in advancing transparency in collective management processes.
On the sidelines of the WIPO meetings discussions were held with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia as well as representatives of Brazil and Saudi Arabia. The parties exchanged views on strengthening cooperation, contemporary approaches to the digitalization of copyright and Indonesia’s initiative to develop international solutions for the fair distribution of remuneration in the digital environment.
Negotiations were also conducted with the WIPO leadership. During the meeting with WIPO Deputy Director General Sylvie Forbin Kazakhstani experience in digitalizing collective management organizations was presented. Ms. Forbin emphasized the significance of the reforms being implemented by Kazakhstan and expressed interest in the further advancement of the project, underscoring its innovative nature and its importance for the international professional community.
Working discussions were also held with Habip Asan, Director of the Department for Transition and Developed Countries, Glenn McStravick, Director of the Application Incubator and Michel Allain, Senior Copyright Expert. The meetings addressed current areas of cooperation and WIPO’s technological initiatives, including the application of artificial intelligence and modern approaches to trademark examinations.
Today, digitalization is not just a fashionable word, it is a reality in which authors, performers, publishers and millions of content consumers live. That is why the issues of copyright protection are of particular relevance: it is important not only to create, but also to be able to protect your creativity in the new digital environment.
The next step in this direction was the international seminar held on October 16-17, 2025 in Almaty on the topic: «Collective management of copyright and Related rights» with the support of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The seminar brought together representatives of WIPO, the EEC, collective management organizations from Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey, creative unions, territorial justice authorities and government agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Today, the field of collective management is undergoing a new stage of development, but it still faces a number of pressing issues and challenges related to ensuring transparency in the activities of collective management organizations and timely payment of remuneration to authors and rights holders.
The seminar covered a wide range of topics, from global trends in collective management to current digital challenges related to streaming services, cross-border licensing and new business models.
The presentations by Miyuki Monroig, Advisor to the Copyright Management Division of WIPO, and Ekaterina Myasnikova, Deputy Head of the Department of Business Development at the EEC, focused on international experience in this area.
Special attention was given to the experience and prospects of collective management organizations in Kazakhstan, as well as transparency and accountability, which are essential for building trust among authors and rights holders.
The seminar was conducted in an open and informative manner. Deputies of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zhanna Asanova and Yerlan Stambekov, emphasized the importance of the collective management system as a tool for ensuring the property rights of authors.
Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Bakytzhan Bazarbek, raised the issue of the multiplicity of Kazakhstani collective management organizations and the need to improve their efficiency and payment of collected remuneration. He also noted the need to unite existing collective management organizations in order to consolidate efforts and achieve the main goal of ensuring the rights of authors.
The issues of digitalization of collective management, as well as the development and implementation of a unified digital platform for collective rights management, aroused interest and controversy.
Lasha Mdvini, Head of the Legal Department of the IPOA Intellectual Property Owners Association of Georgia, noted that the introduction of digital tools in Georgia also caused a lot of controversy and discussion, however, it was the use of digital tools that contributed to a 20-fold increase in the amount of remuneration collected.
Konstantin Galimov, Head of the Department at the National Center for Intellectual Property of the Republic of Belarus, expressed interest in Kazakhstan's experience in implementing a unified digital platform for collective management (UCP) and its ongoing progress.
In addition, the seminar participants discussed the development and digitalization of the collective management system, including the field of collective management, such as reprography.
The seminar participants unanimously agreed that collective management should protect the rights of authors and copyright holders.
The participants not only shared their experiences but also engaged in lively and sometimes heated discussions, but always in a constructive manner.
The seminar became a unique platform for dialogue where both global strategies and specific proposals were presented. It is precisely such meetings that shape a common understanding that the path to a strong, fair and modern intellectual property system can only be achieved through the collaboration of all parties: the government, businesses, creative communities and international partners.
Kazakhstan is confidently moving forward not only embracing the experience but also sharing its own solutions. In the digital world, it is crucial to ensure that creativity is accompanied by justice, protection and respect for the author's work.
On September 15-19 in Washington (USA) the World Intellectual Property Organization, together with the United States Copyright Office, organized an international seminar on copyright. Ilyas Kabdulin, Head of the Copyright Department of the Intellectual Property Rights Committee of the Ministry of Justice, took part in the seminar from the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The event was also attended by representatives of state agencies in the field of intellectual property from developing countries such as Bangladesh, Botswana, Egypt, Cambodia, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, the Maldives, Nepal, Nigeria, Paraguay, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, Ukraine, the Philippines, Ecuador, and Jamaica. The seminar program included a study of the U.S. copyright registration and collective management systems.
All participants presented their countries' progress in developing copyright laws and collective management systems.
In his presentation, Ilyas Kabdulin, a representative of Kazakhstan, spoke about current trends in the development of copyright in our country, changes to copyright legislation and the creation and launch of a unified digital platform in the field of collective rights management.
The participants of the program highly appreciated the speech of the representative of our country, and also showed genuine interest in a single digital platform as a unique tool that can lead to full openness and transparency of the activities of organizations of collective rights management.
Representatives of a number of countries, including Kenya and Paraguay, expressed a desire to adopt the experience of Kazakhstan and create a similar platform in their own country.
On August 20, 2025, the First Meeting of the Heads of Agencies on Intellectual Property Issues of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The participants discussed strengthening cooperation in the field of intellectual property, promoting innovative development, exchanging experiences, and the need to harmonize national approaches in the area of intellectual property.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Intellectual Property Rights of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, M. Sirotina, recalled the initiative put forward by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which was announced at the OTS Summit in July 2024 in Shusha, Azerbaijan.
The countries carried out significant work, established a working group, and prepared a draft Convention as well as a financial and economic analysis.
As a result of the meeting, the parties adopted a Joint Declaration defining the main directions for further cooperation.
On July 24, 2025, in the city of Astana, Chairperson of the Committee on Intellectual Property Rights of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sholpan Toktarovna Abdreyeva and General Director of KT&G Global Kazakhstan Seo Ji Chul signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation.
The document reflects a shift from a framework-based cooperation to a deeper and more practice-oriented model of interaction, aimed at addressing pressing issues in the field of intellectual property, particularly the fight against counterfeit tobacco products.
The signing of the Memorandum marked an important step in strengthening the collaboration between the state and business in the field of intellectual property. It provides for the development of joint initiatives focused on combating counterfeit products, raising awareness and culture of intellectual property protection, improving enforcement practices and supporting innovation activity.