Research and Innovation Center Smart City
A smart city, or Smart City, is a concept of an innovative city that uses information and communication technologies to improve the quality of life of its residents and the efficiency of urban operations. Smart cities must fully meet the needs of present and future generations in economic, social, and environmental aspects. A Smart City is a city where traditional networks and services become more flexible, efficient, and sustainable while reducing environmental impact.
Smart cities of the future require intelligent solutions driven by the development of science and innovation. The combined efforts of the University’s scientific and innovation potential within the Smart City Research and Innovation Center — namely scientists, innovators, practitioners, and bachelor’s and master’s students of Astana IT University — will make it possible to offer the city relevant solutions and technologies that, over the next several years, can make a significant contribution to the development of both the city and the country.
Smart cities of the future require intelligent solutions driven by the development of science and innovation. The combined efforts of the University’s scientific and innovation potential within the Smart City Research and Innovation Center — namely scientists, innovators, practitioners, and bachelor’s and master’s students of Astana IT University — will make it possible to offer the city relevant solutions and technologies that, over the next several years, can make a significant contribution to the development of both the city and the country.
Mission
Bringing together scientists, innovators, practitioners, and students to solve applied tasks of the city’s innovative development in order to improve the quality of urban life. The Center will ensure the implementation of information and communication technologies in various aspects of a smart city, helping preserve and strengthen the competitive advantages of the city in particular and the country as a whole.
Goal
Creation of intelligent solutions using information and communication technologies and artificial intelligence for the smart cities of the future through science, innovation, and successful collaborations.
Functions of the Department
Realization of the scientific and innovation potential of Astana IT University through participation in grant-funded projects, program-targeted funding, grants from international organizations, and contract-based projects
Development and implementation of scientific and innovative products in the fields of Smart Cities and Intelligent Systems using modern methods of artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics (Big Data), and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies
Conducting active publication activities with international collaboration
Formation of the laboratory base of Astana IT University and its expansion with advanced equipment through the attraction of budgetary and extra-budgetary funds (funded projects and sponsorship support)
Training specialists through the involvement of students, master’s students, PhD doctoral students, and postdoctoral researchers in research activities; providing supervision and mentoring for master’s and doctoral students, as well as participating in the development of academic programs
Organization of events aimed at advancing research activities in the fields of Smart City and Intelligent Systems that are beneficial for the city and the country
Activities of the “Smart City” Center in Scientific and Innovation Projects
Ongoing and completed scientific and innovation projects with the participation of the Smart City Research and Innovation Center in 2025:
| № | Project Topic | Project Lead | Amount | Implementation Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BR24992852 “Development of Intelligent Models and Methods for the Smart City Digital Ecosystem for Sustainable Urban Development and Improvement of Citizens’ Quality of Life” | Edilkhan D. | 1 297 826 018,46₸ | 2024-2026 |
| 2 | AP22784985 “Development of an Intelligent Hardware and Software System for Monitoring, Visualization, and Analysis of Urban Data Using a Mobile Sensor Network” | Edilkhan D. | 90 000 000,00₸ | 2024-2026 |
| 3 | Developing a business case and internal governance infrastructure for a new TNE undergraduate dual award in Cybersecurity between Birmingham City University, UK and Astana IT University, Kazakhstan | Salykova L.N., Edilkhan D., Rzayeva L.G. | 17 675 000 (25,000 pounds sterling)₸ | 2024-2025 |
| 4 | Strengthening Smart City Solutions through Knowledge Transfer, Research and Commercialization | Edilkhan D. | 15 750 000 (30,000 US dollars)₸ | 2024-2025 |
| 5 | Development and implementation of a coordination method for the movement of intelligent autonomous mobile robots | Kyzyrkanov A.Ye. | 29 976 690₸ | 2024-2026 |
| 6 | BR28712621 “The Manuscript Heritage of Kazakhstan: Registration, Restoration, Scientific Cataloguing, Digitization, and Comprehensive Codicological Research” | Abdikenov B.B. | 720 000 000₸ | 2025 - 2027 |
Publication Activity of the “Smart City” Research and Innovation Center
| № | Published Articles and Protection Documents for 2025 | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scopus (>50) / Web Of Science (Q1 / Q2) | 24 |
| 2 | Journals Recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education | 19 |
| 3 | Conference Proceedings Articles | 27 |
| 4 | Monographs | 2 |
| 5 | Copyright Certificates | 9 |
| 6 | Patents | 2 |
Selected Publications
Yedilkhan, D., Kyzyrkanov, A., Amirgaliyev, B., Khaimuldin, N., Ayub, M. S., & Zhumadillayeva, A. Efficient area coverage strategies for high-altitude UAVs in smart city monitoring // Drones. – 2025. – Vol. 9. – P. 632. – DOI: 10.3390/drones9090632. (Web of science – Q1, Scopus – 87)
Ilyassov B., Guerrero A., Zavgorodniy A., Aldasheva L., Yedilkhan D. Optimizing Switching Behavior of Organic Electrochemical Transistors // Engineered Science. — 2025. — DOI: 10.30919/es1519. (Web of science – Q1, Scopus – 97)
Kenzheakhmetov B., Amankos A., Amirgaliyev B., Zhanibekova Zh., Zhalgas A., Yedilkhan D. A Kazakh Language Dataset of Lip Movements for Command Recognition // Scientific Data. — 2025. — DOI: 10.1038/s41597-025-06193-0. (Web of science – Q1, Scopus – 96)
Askhatuly A., Berdysheva D., Berdyshev A., Adamova A., Yedilkhan D. Adversarial Attacks and Defense Mechanisms in Machine Learning: A Structured Review of Methods, Domains, and Open Challenges // IEEE Access. — 2025. — DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.0429000. (Web of science – Q1, Scopus – 90)
Bakirov K., Tussupov J., Tussupov A., Shayea I., Shoman A. Application of a hybrid model for data analysis in hydroponic systems // Technologies. – 2025. – Vol. 13, No. 5. – P. 166. – DOI 10.3390/technologies13050166. (Web of science – Q1, Scopus – 88)
Развитие лабораторий
Smart City Center
The Smart City Center is equipped with:
• workstations with GPU;
• a situation center with a video wall and workstations;
• interactive displays;
• licenses for professional software;
• intelligent cameras.
UAV Development Center
The UAV Development Center is equipped with:
• drones of various classes and purposes;
• programmable training drones;
• FPV goggles and video headsets;
• accessories and components.
Computing Center
The Computing Center is equipped with:
• server equipment;
• data storage systems and storage components;
• graphics processing units (GPUs) for computing;
• UPS systems and engineering infrastructure.
Organizational Structure
Kutpanova Zarina Almabekovna
Junior Researcher
Email: z.kutpanova@astanait.edu.kz
Office:C1.1.231
Junior Researcher
Email: z.kutpanova@astanait.edu.kz
Office:C1.1.231