Development of strategy for the competitiveness of IT companies in Kazakhstan: identification of hidden success factors and formation of innovation clusters using data analysis methods to determine the factors

Project Leader: Nurgul Yesmagulova, PhD in Economics, Professor at the School of Digital Public Administration

Funding Source: Grant Funding of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Implementation Period: 2025–2027

Total Funding: 87,710,524 KZT

The project is aimed at developing a strategy for the competitiveness of IT companies based on the transition to competitive advantages of the highest order, new approaches to building competitive potential, the development of a flexible network organization by creating a cluster and a cluster observatory using data analysis methods to determine growth factors.

1) Review of the previous theoretical aspects of competitiveness and the best foreign practices for the development of the IT industry:
1.1 The study of basic competition theories, including the Theory of the Innovative Advantage of competition (J. Schumpeter), Cluster Theory (M.Porter), the Theory of a Dynamic Approach to competition (F.Hayek), Theory of the Social Approach (X.Uyat), the Strategy of the Blue Ocean (V.Chan Kim and R. Mauborn).
1.2 Research the methods for measuring and analyzing the competitiveness of IT industry entities, taking into account the criteria for assessing global competitiveness, digital competitiveness IMD and the global innovation index (GII).
1.3. Study of international experience in the development of the IT industry, including Japan, Canada, Europe and the Republic of Belarus.
2) Analysis of the competitiveness of IT companies and the IT market of the RK.
2.1 Analysis of state regulation of IT entities business operation.
2.2 Analysis and assessment the competitiveness of business entities in IT industry and IT market.
2.3. Comparative analysis of the competitive advantages of business entities in the IT industry at the international and national level
3) Development of strategic approaches to ensure the competitiveness of IT industry entities.
3.1 Development of a model for the competitiveness of entrepreneurship in the IT industry.
3.2 Development of strategic measures to secure the competitiveness of IT industry entities.
4. Development and testing of a conceptual model of cluster competitiveness adapted to national characteristics:
4.1 To test the model on pilot projects, taking into account the specifics of the Kazakh IT market.
5. Creation of a strategic plan for the implementation of the model in practice, including recommendations for government agencies and businesses:
5.1 Develop recommendations for integrating the developed model into the current IT business support structure, taking into account the specific needs and characteristics of the industry in Kazakhstan.
6. Development of mechanisms to support innovation and attract investment in the IT industry:
6.1. Create mechanisms to stimulate innovation activity among IT industry entities, including grant support, tax incentives and acceleration programs.
6.2. Develop strategies to attract venture capital and foreign investments in IT companies in Kazakhstan, focused on supporting startups and small enterprises.
7. Evaluating the effectiveness of the developed strategies and models, monitoring their implementation:
7.1. Conduct pilot testing of the proposed strategies and models, analyze the results to make adjustments.
7.2. Develop a system for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of competitiveness strategies and models to ensure their long-term effectiveness and adaptability to market changes.

1) Within the framework of the project it is planned:
– ublication of less than 2 (two) articles in a peer-reviewed scientific publication indexed in the Social Science Citation Index and included in the 1st (first) or 2nd (second) quartile by impact factor in the Web of Science database and (or) having a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 50 (fifty).
– Publication of 4 (four) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed foreign and (or) domestic publications recommended by Committee for Quality Assurance in the Field of Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
– Obtaining 1 certificate of entry into the state register of rights to objects protected by copyright.
– Development of scientific, technical, design documentation: 1 methodological recommendation.
– Publication of a monograph with a volume of at least 5 printed sheets in a Kazakh publishing house.
– Preparation of 1 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the educational program “Project Management”.

2) Dissemination of the results of the work among potential users, the community of scientists and the general public.
The solution of the tasks set is aimed at clarifying the basic principles of the theory of competitiveness, taking into account current trends and scientific substantiation of the proposed model for ensuring the competitiveness of business entities in the creative industry.
Scientific and technical effect: development of a model of competitiveness of entrepreneurship in the IT industry, publication of scientific research results.
Multiplicative effect: ensuring the competitiveness of business entities in the IT industry through the use of competitive advantages contributes to ensuring global competitiveness, digital competitiveness of IMD and the Global Innovation Index (GII).
The results of the study will be recommended to the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Agency for Development and Protection of Competition, JSC “Kazakhstan Center for Industry and Export “QazIndustry” and other interested parties for their further implementation in practice.
The project is aimed at developing practical recommendations for determining the factors of growth in the competitiveness of the IT industry in Kazakhstan.
The key result will be a conceptual model of cluster competitiveness adapted to the conditions of Kazakhstan, which will improve coordination, information exchange and attract investments in IT clusters. Strategic measures for companies and government programs aimed at improving the business climate and innovation activity will also be developed.
Mechanisms will be developed to stimulate innovation and attract investment to support startups and small businesses, which will create conditions for accelerated growth of the industry. Pilot testing of pos models and strategies

Yesmagulova, N., et al. “ANALYSIS OF STATE REGULATION OF BUSINESS ENTITIES IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY”. Vestnik KazUTB, vol. 3, no. 28, Sept. 2025, https://doi.org/10.58805/kazutb.v.3.28-1179.