Astana is preparing to become a focal point for the global technology community: from October 2 to 4, 2025, the international forum Digital Bridge 2025 will take place here — the largest event in Central Asia in the field of digital technologies, startups, and artificial intelligence. The forum is organized by the Astana Hub International Innovation Cluster in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MDDIAI), as well as the Akimat of Astana.

The Digital Bridge forum annually brings together leaders of the global IT industry, technological innovators, investors, representatives of government agencies, venture funds, and the startup ecosystem to discuss global trends in digital transformation, the development of artificial intelligence, and the strengthening of regional technological cooperation.

Since its inception, Digital Bridge has established itself as a key technological event in the Eurasian region. Over the years, the forum has gathered more than 67,000 participants from more than 100 countries, over 1,000 speakers, and 550 representatives of government agencies and international organizations. More than 500 startups have presented their projects at the Digital Bridge platform, and about 500 investors and business angels have participated in the forum’s business program.

The strategic goal of the forum is to promote Kazakhstan as a technological hub connecting Europe and Asia, as well as to create a sustainable digital ecosystem capable of exporting innovations and developing global technology products.

The main theme of Digital Bridge 2025 is the concept of Generative Nation — the country’s strategic direction toward building a knowledge-based society founded on advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, and the development of human capital. Generative Nation symbolizes Kazakhstan’s transition from consuming technologies to creating and scaling them in international markets.

Among the key events of the forum: speeches by leaders of the global AI industry, the opening of the International Artificial Intelligence Center alem.ai, the final of the Generative Nation Pitch competition, the Astana Hub Battle startup competition, the Startup Alley exhibition of technological solutions, the Digital Bridge Awards ceremony for achievements in digital technologies, as well as interactive zones, thematic panel sessions, and deep tech discussions.

In the run-up to the forum, from September 29 to October 4, AI WEEK will take place in Astana — a thematic week combining events at the intersection of education, science, investment, and public policy in the field of artificial intelligence. This week will become an integral part of the forum and bring together representatives of universities, research centers, venture funds, startups, international organizations, and government agencies. Within AI Week, there will be masterclasses by global and Kazakhstani AI and Data Science experts, open lectures at universities, deep tech sessions, workshops, AI meetups, the semi-final of Generative Nation Pitch for school students, university students, and young researchers, as well as a cultural program. The goal of AI Week is to engage youth, startups, and the research community in the practical development of technologies in Kazakhstan, to create an open environment for knowledge exchange, and to shape a new generation of AI leaders.

Generative Nation Pitch is an open competition track held in four categories: school students, university students, startups with MVP, and research teams. Project evaluation will take place in three stages: first, an expert selection based on such criteria as the application of AI technologies, originality of the idea, scalability potential, team competence, clarity and consistency of the presentation, as well as the ethical component of the project.

Astana Hub Battle, which has already gained popularity and recognition, will again become one of the main attractions of the forum. More than 100 startups from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries will present their projects to an international jury, venture investors, representatives of technology corporations, and the media. On October 3, the semi-final of the main startup competition of the year will take place, and on October 4, the final will be held on the main stage of the forum with the participation of the 10 best startups.

As part of Digital Bridge, the official Digital Bridge Awards 2025 ceremony will also take place, recognizing significant contributions to the development of the IT industry in Kazakhstan and beyond. This year, the award will be presented in 8 categories: Export Excellence, Tech Leadership Laureate, AI Solution of the Year, EdTech of the Year, GovTech Innovation, Tech Media Excellence, Social Impact Project, and Breakthrough Startup. Evaluation will be conducted in four stages: online application, additional questionnaire, automated AI analysis, and expert jury assessment.

Startup Alley will bring together Kazakhstani and international startups presenting innovative solutions in such areas as fintech, EdTech, GovTech, Big Data, AR/VR, sustainable development, green technologies, and cybersecurity. A separate exhibition zone of Digital Bridge 2025 will be dedicated to showcasing the achievements of leading IT companies. Here, forum participants will be able to experience live demonstrations of the latest digital products, services, technological solutions, and prototypes reflecting current trends in AI, cloud computing, software, fintech, GovTech, and other sectors.

Over three days, the Digital Bridge 2025 venue will host dozens of panel discussions, demonstrations, networking meetings, pitches, and workshops, creating a unique opportunity for dialogue among government representatives, technology businesses, the scientific community, and youth initiatives.

Digital Bridge 2025 is not just a forum, but a catalyst for digital change, a strategic platform for strengthening international ties, developing an innovation ecosystem, and shaping Kazakhstan’s new digital identity. The country demonstrates that digitalization is not a short-term trend, but a national priority and an integral part of a sustainable future.