Celebrating Heritage, Entrepreneurship & Sustainability September 24-26, 2025

A Three-Day International Conference at Nazarbayev University

As part of President Waqar Ahmed’s 15-Year Anniversary Initiative, Nazarbayev University proudly hosted the international conference “Entrepreneurship, Heritage, and Sustainability: Exploring the Nexus of Economy, Culture, and Applied Research.” Held over three days, this landmark event brought together academics, practitioners, and policymakers to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue, uniting voices from science, business, cultural institutions, and the sustainability sector.

Organized in collaboration with Humboldt University of Berlin, the conference was more than an academic gathering—it was a celebration of NU’s dedication to research that matters, partnerships that bridge divides, and knowledge that resonates with the soul of society.

The first day focused on entrepreneurship, capturing the vibrancy of emerging industries such as digital technology, green innovation, and grassroots ventures. Sessions featured fresh research on local entrepreneurial ecosystems as well as candid insights from startup founders and change-makers navigating real-world challenges.

Day two turned toward heritage, highlighting the complex relationship between identity, cultural legacy, and creative expression. Discussions spanned topics from cultural preservation and foodways to the revival of artistic traditions and the politics of memory. The sessions revealed how cultural work can act as both resistance and renewal in postcolonial contexts.

The final day explored sustainability, bringing applied research into conversation with pressing regional challenges, climate adaptation, energy transition, food security, and inclusive green development. Voices from across Central Asia shared projects, policies, and community-based practices rooted in resilience and innovation.

Throughout the event, the dialogue was rich, the questions bold, and the atmosphere charged with a sense of possibility. This conference not only marked NU’s past achievements, it pointed resolutely toward the future, one where knowledge, heritage, and sustainability are not separate domains but interwoven strands of a thriving, inclusive society.

As the university continues to rise in global standing, events like these exemplify its deeper purpose: to serve as a home for rigorous thought, honest work, and collective imagination that shapes a more equitable and sustainable world.