What is it about?
This book chapter explores why Kazakhstan’s substantial investments in building innovation infrastructure have not led to the expected boom in innovation. It analyzes how key elements of the country’s national innovation system, including technoparks, business incubators, design offices, and universities, are structured and interconnected. Using a custom methodology based on international benchmarks, the chapter evaluates the effectiveness of these components and identifies critical gaps in policy and coordination.
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Why is it important?
Understanding the barriers to effective innovation infrastructure is crucial for emerging economies striving for sustainable, knowledge-driven growth. Kazakhstan’s case illustrates how having physical infrastructure alone is not enough — what matters more is how well the components interact. The findings highlight the importance of clearly defined policies, university-industry collaboration, and targeted support mechanisms. This chapter offers valuable lessons for policymakers in Kazakhstan and other developing nations working to build or reform their national innovation systems.
Perspectives
This chapter gave me an opportunity to unpack a paradox I had observed for years: how a country like Kazakhstan, with bold ambitions and significant investment in innovation, could still struggle to produce meaningful outcomes. What began as an academic inquiry turned into a deeper exploration of the invisible threads that connect, or fail to connect, institutions, people, and policies. I hope this work encourages further conversation about what it really takes to build innovation capacity in emerging economies.
Dr. Yelena Smirnova
University of Barcelona
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Innovation Infrastructure of Kazakhstan, January 2014, IGI Global,
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-4769-5.ch015.
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