On January 25, 2026, the walls of Nazarbayev University were filled with innovation and enthusiasm as GenerativeX 2026, an international research and startup tournament, reached its exciting offline final. The event brought together high school and university students from across Kazakhstan – and beyond – to turn bold, innovative ideas into real-world technological solutions.
GenerativeX 2026 was organized by the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University in collaboration with Academix Hub, founded by ISSAI Summer Research Program 2025 (SRP) alumnus – Magzhan Amanzhan and other key partners. The initiative aims to inspire the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs by challenging young innovators to explore the frontiers of science, technology, and business.
The tournament featured two competitive tracks among 20 teams:
- Research Track – focusing on academic and scientific approaches
- Startup Track – centered on entrepreneurial, scalable solutions
The Research Track judging panel included distinguished ISSAI team members Anuar Aryngazin, Data Scientist at ISSAI, and Dr. Zhanat Makhataeva, Senior Data Scientist at ISSAI – both recognized for their expertise in data science, AI, and research innovation.
Anuar Aryngazin, a Data Scientist at ISSAI, delivered a presentation on ISSAI and SRP – ISSAI’s initiative aimed at developing human capital – and announced that the call for applications for the summer program would be opened in February 2026.
Among the invited guests and speakers was Magzhan Amanzhan, founder of Academix Hub and SRP 2025 alumnus. Also joining the stage was Alpamys Sarzhigitov, a former SRP participant and now a student at Heriot-Watt University and experienced startup practitioner, who shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey.
The winners received cash prizes and AI credits to Gemini PRO for 12 months, and we sincerely congratulate them on their outstanding achievements:
Research Track Winners:
- Fatikh – 50 000 KZT
- Innovation Freaks – 30 000 KZT
- NAEM – 20 000 KZT
Startup Track Winners:
- INNOVAST – 50 000 KZT
- VORTEX – 30 000 KZT
- KazP – 20 000 KZT
The success of GenerativeX 2026 marks a significant milestone for youth innovation in Kazakhstan, empowering young minds to pursue research excellence and entrepreneurial ventures that could shape the future of technology.