Harvard Panel Discussion Brings Together Central Asian Innovation Leaders

The Harvard Kennedy School recently hosted a panel discussion dedicated to the evolving role of Central Asia in the global technological landscape. Titled "From Central Eurasia to Silicon Valley: Building the Bridge in the AI Age," the event convened prominent regional leaders, including Abdulakhad Kuchkarov, CEO of IT Park Uzbekistan; Azamat Karamatov, Director of IT Park Ventures; Tanat Uskembaev, CEO of Astana Hub; Asset Abdualiyev, Founder of Silkroad Innovation Hub; and Aikumis Seksenbayeva, Astana Hub’s North America Representative. The discussion was moderated by Dauren Kabiev, Co-Chair of the Central Asian Association at Harvard.

Organized in collaboration with Harvard University’s Center for International Development, the session formed part of the Road to GEM25 series, aimed at examining the impact of artificial intelligence on future economic development. Participants explored how Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Central Asian nations are strengthening their positions in the global technology race. 

Key Topics of Discussion

AI as a Strategic Priority: Abdulakhad Kuchkarov emphasized that Uzbekistan is actively integrating AI into both public services and the startup ecosystem, launching regulatory "sandboxes" to test new solutions.

Investment Potential: Tanat Uskembaev elaborated on the criteria employed by Astana Hub and IT Park Ventures when selecting startups for investment, with a particular focus on cross-border scalability.

Globalization Through Partnerships: Asset Abdualiyev provided insights into successful cases of Central Asian startups entering the United States market through the Silkroad Innovation Hub platform.

Educational Initiatives: Aikumis Seksenbayeva announced upcoming initiatives aimed at facilitating academic exchange between universities in Central Asia and Harvard, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence.

In his remarks, Abdulakhad Kuchkarov stated:

"Central Asia is not only witnessing a growing number of startups but also qualitative shifts: projects from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are already competing at the regional level across Central Asia and the MENA region. The next step is integration into Silicon Valley’s value chains."

During the event, Azamat Karamatov, Director of IT Park Ventures, conducted a series of strategic meetings with representatives of leading universities and international venture funds. The discussions focused on attracting experts from Harvard, MIT, Boston University, and global accelerators to launch educational initiatives and strategic workshops in Uzbekistan aimed at enhancing the investment readiness of startups.

As a result of these meetings, preliminary agreements were reached with several strategic partners to join the IT Park Ventures’ expert network and investment pipeline. This development opens significant new opportunities for collaborative projects and further solidifies Uzbekistan’s position as a promising hub for technological entrepreneurship and as a strategic entry point to the Central Eurasian markets for international venture capital.

The event at the Harvard Kennedy School reaffirmed that Central Asia is rapidly emerging as a new hub of technological ambition. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and their regional partners are not merely fostering startup ecosystems and advancing digital transformation; they are collectively shaping the global narrative of Central Asia as a frontier for innovation in artificial intelligence and venture investment. Initiatives such as Road to GEM25 are deepening engagement with leading global institutions, facilitating access to cutting-edge knowledge, strategic networks, and investment capital. As underscored by the participants, the next milestone will focus on turning these "local success stories" into a sustainable ecosystem capable of influencing the global technology agenda.