Open Innovation Platform: Open Space High Technology Contest
The International Innovation Contest Open Space began its registration on December 1, 2023. As a result, 35 participants registered, 15 of whom registered for the Open Space innovation technology contest, and 20 for the architectural contest "AGT Global Sustainable Space Quest." The contest directions included robotics, chemical engineering, and architecture. The contest lasted for 6 months and consisted of three online rounds and a final, which took place in Astana on June 17, 2024. The contest was attended by students from Shakarim University (Semey city), Satbayev University (Almaty city), Elabuga Institute of the Republic of Tatarstan, KazNMU (Almaty city), Eastern Mediterranean University (Cyprus, Turkey), Yildiz Teknik Universitesi (Istanbul, Turkey), and KazGASA (Almaty city). The international contest Open Space was held in three languages: Kazakh, Russian, and English.

Path to Innovation:
During all rounds of the contest, participants underwent training sessions on various topics, as well as control stages. In the field of robotics, speaker Ertay Rakhimov spoke on "Algorithm for preparing IoT projects for participation in competitions." In the field of architecture, training sessions were conducted by Anton Fedyanin, chief architect of the project center at the Kazgor project academy, and Alexei Ivzhenko, director of Basire Design Group. In the field of chemical engineering, a training session on "Strategies and processes for creating successful research projects in the field of chemistry and chemical engineering taking into account the SDGs" was conducted by Dmitry Alexandrovich. Talgat Birzhanuly conducted an intensive course on oratory and public speaking, where each participant could overcome stage fright. Alibek Talgatbekovich conducted a training session on "Project management tools for creating presentations for innovative projects" for participants in the fields of chemical engineering and robotics. Vladimir Vladimirovich conducted a training session for participants in the field of architecture on "Graphic presentation and project defense." A general training session on "Modeling the budget of a technical project" with speaker Lyudmila Popova was also held for all teams. After all the training sessions, a control stage was held, during which mentors and external speakers were connected for a thorough analysis of each team's work.
After each round, participants received expert feedback from mentors on their projects. During the contest, participants had the unique opportunity to publish their articles on the official website agtglobal.kz.

Culmination of Innovation: Grand Finale of the International Innovation Contest OPEN SPACE-2024
The final of the international innovation contest Open Space took place on June 17, 2024, in Astana. Three teams reached the final in the "Architecture" category (all from Satbayev University, Almaty), two teams in the "Chemical Engineering" category (Shakarim University, Semey, and Elabuga Institute, Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan), and one team in the "Robotics" category (Satbayev University, Almaty). Over six months of hard work, each team presented their final projects to the jury members. Partners from the Republic of Tatarstan, including the director of the Elabuga Institute of Kazan Federal University, Elena Efimovna Merzon, and a guest from Kazan Federal University, Republic of Tatarstan, Garizdanova Albina Raisovna, attended the final. Projects presented included "Soil Structuring Agent IPZK" in the chemical engineering category, where specific chemical elements were used, and the project was excellently presented. In the robotics category, a robot working on artificial intelligence and controlled via a website was made. The chemical engineering category included a project on "Oil Sludge Recycling in the Republic of Tatarstan," presented by a participant from Tatarstan.
Projects in the architecture category were executed based on notes received from mentors during the first round of the contest. 3D models, videos, and 3D mock-ups were created using a 3D printer.

"At the Pinnacle of Innovation: Notable Prize Winners of the Contest"

Innovation contest "Open Space"

• 1st place - team "Egida" (3 participants) in the direction of "Chemical Engineering" (Shakarim University, Semey)
• 2nd place - team "Roboshariq" (4 participants) in the direction of "Robotics" (Satbayev University, Almaty)
• 3rd place - Zingashin Ilnaz in the direction of "Chemical Engineering" (Elabuga Institute of the Republic of Tatarstan)

Architectural contest "AGT Global Sustainable Space Quest"

• 1st place - team ALTeam (3 participants)
• 2nd place - team ArhiTeam (3 participants)
• 3rd place - team NauArt (3 participants)

All of them are representatives of Satbayev University, Almaty.

The main prize of the contest was an internship abroad for the winners. They will be able to visit another country, exchange new knowledge and experience, and see advanced practices in their field.
The contest was extremely beneficial for the participants: they acquired many new skills and knowledge. The best participants are also expected to receive job offers and participate in various new projects.