The Aurora Tech Award 2025 has gained global attention by declaring its longlist announcing 120 women founders from 43 countries who made significant impacts with their tech startups. Of the remarkable 2018 applications submitted from 116 countries, four exceptional women from Kazakhstan stood out.
This prestigious accolade is initiated by the burgeoning tech firm, inDrive, aimed at acknowledging female entrepreneurs excelling within the dynamic start-up ecosystem. The short list will be revealed on February 26, 2025, with winners set to receive cash prizes—$30,000 for first place, $20,000 for second, and $15,000 for third, along with smaller prizes for the fourth and fifth positions.
Among the noteworthy nominees is Aliya Sabitova, who co-founded the unique marketplace, inCare KZ, addressing the prominent need for specialized care services for people with disabilities. Sabitova explained the start-up's origins. “Our idea arose from personal experiences and observations around the challenges faced by the disabled and families of special needs children when seeking quality care,” she stated. Their platform aims to create inclusivity, allowing users to find professional caretakers adept at fulfilling various care needs.
Reflecting on the social entrepreneurship climate, Sabitova noted, “Kazakhstan has witnessed considerable progress; now over 800 social entrepreneurs are registered, indicating enhanced blooming interest and activity.” She elucidated the challenges entrepreneurs face, particularly the awareness deficit among regional entrepreneurs concerning available resources and support systems. The establishment of subcommittees to advocate for social entrepreneurship has been instrumental, with help from governmental policies offering tax benefits and grants.
On another front, the Siberian Federal District’s higher education institutions have been rated by the RAEX agency, highlighting significant excellence among Siberian universities. The method emphasized objective data over self-reported metrics, focusing on qualitative factors impacting educational opportunities.
The standout institutions included Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University as the top contender, followed by the Siberian State Transport University and Kemerovo State Medical University. Impressively, Omsk's universities also made their mark, with the Omsk State University ranking seventh, Omsk State Pedagogical University at ninth, and Omsk Agricultural University securing tenth place, illustrating the growing educational standards and prestige within the region.
The importance of regional infrastructure supporting high-quality education was firmly echoed by representatives from the RAEX agency. "The ranking was based on independent data sources without university surveys, focusing on conditions for high-quality education and regional relevance,” they stated, reiterative of the value ascribed to fundamental educational structures.
Environmental concerns surfaced as the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan published its January 2025 bulletin detailing alarming pollution levels across the nation. Out of 70 surveyed settlements, some were characterized by very high pollution, including cities such as Karaganda and Almaty.
“There has been stable high air pollution levels observed over the past five years, particularly in Karaganda, Almaty, and Temirtau,” the bulletin outlined, referring to harmful emitted particles inhibiting air quality and thereby impacting public health significantly.
Cities were categorized based on pollution intensity, with clear distinctions made between levels ranging from very high to low pollution, valuable for the public to understand their local environments’ safety. Following such reports can aid advocacy for improved environmental policies and initiatives across Kazakhstan, emphasizing communal responsibility for the environment.
Summing up, the intertwined narratives of women's entrepreneurial achievements and the capacity of regional universities to cultivate talent signal the foundations of Kazakhstan's socio-economic growth. Sabitova’s aspirations for funding from the Aurora Award encapsulate the objective of fostering innovations leading to societal improvements. Likewise, the elevational focus on educational institutions serves not only to empower future generations but also positions them as key players within the regional economy.
With such ventures and stringent academic evaluations, Kazakhstan is poised to navigate through the modern challenges, with collaborative government actions promising greater support for both educational endeavors and social enterprises, underpinning their contributions to the greater good.