The purpose of the forum is to unlock the potential of the Eurasian region by combining the activities of the EAEU member states in one framework for the exchange of knowledge and experience on the innovation ecosystem. The site is viewed as an important joint step in implementing the digital agenda of the Eurasian Economic Union until 2025. In total, the event was attended by over 800 international experts, representatives of the EEC, UN, EAEU countries, embassies.

The plenary session was also attended by the prime ministers of the Republic of Belarus — Syarhey Rumas, the Kyrgyz Republic — Muhammadkaliy Abylgaziyev, the Russian Federation — Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tigran Sargsyan. In addition, international digital innovation experts took part in the discussion: Consultant on Transformation of the Digital Economy, former Director General of the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation Yasmin Mahmood, CEO of Big Innovation Center Birgitte Andersen, Founder and CEO of LINAGORA Alexandre Zapolsky, CEO of Tlabs, Head of Economics and Finance Department at Singularity University Amin Toufani.

During the session, issues of implementing the EAEU Digital Agenda and further uniting efforts for the development of the innovation ecosystem, including through the integration of technology parks of the Union member countries and the launch of new digital projects were discussed. Participants shared country experiences on building a modern digital economy. It is noted that innovation allows countries to be more competitive, adapted to change and help ensure a higher standard of living. So, it is innovations that today create a solid foundation for the development of entrepreneurship, business growth and the creation of new jobs, as well as helping to solve problems in the field of health, environment, energy and food security.

Bakytzhan Sagintayev in his speech noted that the main goal of all innovations and technologies is to improve the lives of people, to create comfortable conditions for their work and growth. Therefore, in Kazakhstan today 60% of public services are provided through e-government, this year the challenge is to bring the rate up to 80%. Along with this, the transition from eGov to mGov (mobile government) is underway.

For the development of innovative entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan, the international technology park Astana Hub has been launched. Today the hub is 100% full. At the same time, work is underway to further attract strong players in the innovation sphere. All the necessary conditions have been created for combining talents and developing competition for the participants of Astana Hub: this is the simplification of the visa and employment regimes, the provision of rental housing, tools for grant financing. In addition, it was noted that the development of competition within the EAEU will improve the quality of start-up projects.

To create an innovative ecosystem and talent development, a number of reforms were also carried out in the educational system of Kazakhstan, including secondary, vocational and higher education. For example, in Astana, it is planned to open a specialized IT university, whose work will be coupled with the activities of Astana Hub. Separate work is carried out to support scientific activities. In general, in October 2018, the Head of State Nazarbayev set the task of bringing the level of financing science and education, health to 10% of GDP, and also the share of research and development costs in 5 years — up to 1% of GDP by 2025.

Following the plenary session, the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between the technology parks Astana Hub (Kazakhstan), Skolkovo (Russia), Enterprise Incubator (Armenia), High Technologies Park (Kyrgyzstan) was held using a digital signature.

The forum continued at the panel sessions on the following topics: “EEU Digital Agenda,” “Digitization in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (UN),” “Digitization in the Innovation Ecosystem,” “Industry 4.0 — Consumer of Innovation Ecosystem,” “Digitization of Small and Medium Business."