On February 8, 2024, an important event took place in the Kostanay Regional Smart Center – the Winter Pizza Pitch competition of innovative ideas, organized by Qostanai IT Hub. The event was held as part of the implementation of the instruction of the Head of State issued by the Department of Informatization, Public Services and Archives of the Akimat of Kostanay region, aimed at creating an integrated innovation ecosystem in the region, using the experience of the successful experience of Astana Hub.

The prize fund of the competition amounted to 250,000 tenge, which emphasizes the importance and support of innovations in the field of information technology. The distribution of prizes is as follows: the first place will receive 100,000 tenge, the second – 70,000 tenge, the third – 30,000 tenge. There are also consolation prizes in the amount of 10,000 tenge for five participants, which totals 50,000 tenge.

Students of Kostanay Polytechnic Higher College, who presented two innovative projects, stood out from among the participants of the competition. The project called “Eco Furniture” took the deserved second place and received a prize of 70,000 tenge. The second project, “Ecoplitka”, was awarded a consolation prize in the amount of 10,000 tenge.

The students who presented the Eco Furniture project, Daria Egorycheva and Elena Khairullina, stood out for their approach to solving the urgent problem of reducing plastic waste. Their project presents a unique technology for the production of furniture made of recycled plastic, which opens up new horizons in the field of sustainable design.

The second project, presented by Alibek Shyngyskhan and Victoria Panchenko, is also focused on environmental principles. It focuses on the production of paving slabs and the use of recycled plastic bottles, emphasizing the importance of efficient use of resources for a sustainable future.

The project managers, Kontrobayeva J.D. and Alseitov K.S., Uaisova M.M. expressed satisfaction with the results of the competition and stressed the importance of supporting young talented entrepreneurs focused on solving urgent environmental problems. All participants demonstrated not only a high level of technical competence, but also a desire to create innovative solutions for the sustainable development of the region.

Teacher of special disciplines of the KGKP “Kostanay Polytechnic Higher College” Kontrobayeva Zhannat Dusembievna, head of the regional circle “Business without borders”.