Yerbol Absalyamov, Executive Director of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University, participated in the Data Economy Conference held at Astana Hub on July 23.
The conference brought together representatives of government, business, international organizations, IT companies and the scientific community to discuss the implementation of Kazakhstan’s Digital Code and the development of a national data market.
Speaking during the panel discussion “Data as an Asset of the National Economy,” Mr. Absalyamov highlighted the importance of building a trusted ecosystem for the secure and effective exchange of data.
“Today, the challenge is not so much a shortage of data as the lack of an established system for its safe and effective exchange. Creating clear rules, trusted infrastructure and incentives for market participants will become the foundation for the development of the data market.”
He identified several sectors where the data economy can deliver significant impact, including public administration, healthcare, industry and energy, agriculture, transport and logistics, and finance.
Mr. Absalyamov also emphasized the role of universities and research organizations in developing the national data ecosystem. Beyond using data for research, they can contribute by creating high-quality datasets, developing standards and benchmarks, training specialists, and providing independent expertise on data and AI systems.
“Universities and research organizations should be not only consumers of data, but also creators and, where possible, drivers of the development of the data market,” he said.
Highlighting ISSAI’s contribution, he noted the Institute’s work in human-centered AI, high-quality research, open-source datasets and models, and AI benchmarks. These efforts support the development and evaluation of AI systems adapted to Kazakhstan’s linguistic and societal context.
The discussion also focused on the importance of moving research from prototypes to practical applications through pilot projects, technology transfer, commercialization and stronger cooperation between science, government and business.
The conference also featured presentations of Kazakhstan’s emerging digital data platforms, including Astana Data Exchange, MedEx and Kompra, marking a further step toward the formation of a regulated national data market.
The Data Economy Conference was organized by the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan.