АО "Национальное агентство по развитию инноваций "QazInnovations"
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where can I register for the ZOOM conference?
You can register using the link https://forms.gle/xaPdqhM34TBvMAhR7 We will then send you a link to the email address you provided.
2. Where can I see the status of the application for the ZOOM conference?
A link to the conference is sent to the contacts you specified during registration, a day and half an hour before the start.
3. Can I get a presentation that was broadcast in a ZOOM conference?
Yes, it will be sent to your e-mail, which you indicated during registration, or via WhatsApp.
4. Who can receive an innovation grant?
Startups – small businesses
5. What stages of project implementation are financed?
1) finalization of the product and development of a commercialization strategy, including investment attraction.
2) launch of production (implementation and maintenance) of the product and its implementation (commercialization) on the market.
6. What are the requirements for an applicant to receive an innovation grant?
Innovation grants are calculated for projects in two stages:
At the first stage
- completion of business incubation and (or) acceleration program;
- availability of completed results of scientific and (or) scientific and technical activities, or an experimental prototype of a product, or an initial design (MVP).
- availability of a team of no more than 5 (five) qualified specialists, including a commercialization specialist, with experience in marketing research (for co-financing through a grant).
- small business entity;
- Co-financing from the applicant at least 10% of the Project implementation amount
Passing the first stage is a prerequisite for admission to the competition for the selection of the second and third stages
At the second stage
- availability of a product ready for production and (or) for sale.
- the presence of a marketing plan for promoting the product.
- attracting investments in the amount of at least 30 (thirty) percent of the number of funds of the second stage; the presence of a team of no more than 7 (seven) people, including a commercialization specialist with business experience, specialized project specialists (for co-financing from a grant).
- Co-financing from the applicant at least 10% of the Project implementation amount
7. What documents need to be collected?
at stage 1:
a preliminary proposal for an innovation grant in the form, according to annex 1to these Rules;
at stage 2:
1) a complete proposal for an innovative grant in the form, according to annex 2to these Rules;
2) business plan of the project in the form, according to Annex 3to these Rules;
3) a draft calendar plan in the form, according to Annex 4to these Rules;
4) a draft cost estimate with a breakdown of costs in the form, according to Annex 5 to these Rules;
5) for legal entities – a copy of the charter (when carrying out activities on the basis of a model charter – a certificate of state registration (re-registration) of a legal entity);
6) information on the absence (presence) of debt, the records of which are kept in the state revenue bodies.
7) copies of preliminary contracts and (or) agreements, including license ones, for the supply of equipment (if any).
8) copies of contracts for the transportation (delivery) of equipment (if any).
9) technical specification for the development of a software product, which, in addition to the requirements for the software product, indicates the required specialists, their number in the context of specialization, describing the types, volumes, terms, and payment of their work (when developing a software product).
10) copies of diplomas and (or) certificates or other documents, confirming the qualifications of a member of the project team.
11) financial model of the project in Excel format.
12) a document confirming the completion of the acceleration and business incubation program.
For the conclusion of an agreement – the decision of the supreme body on the conclusion of an agreement for the provision of an innovation grant, the decision to empower the head and (or) authorized person to sign documents related to the receipt of an innovation grant.
In the case of applying through the portal, the documents specified in paragraphs 5, 7, 8, and 12 are provided in the form of electronic copies.
8. Financing of the 1st stage
At the stage of finalizing the product and developing a commercialization strategy, including attracting investments. The amount is provided on the terms of co-financing and amounts to no more than 20,000,000 (twenty million) tenge
9. What types of costs are covered at the 1st stage?
the salary of the project team members (including taxes, fees, and other mandatory related payments), amounting to no more than 30 (thirty) percent of the number of stage funds or no more than 6,000,000 (six million) tenge.
payment for other works and (or) services performed by third parties and (or) co-executors, including those related to the provision of equipment rental.
travel expenses (including foreign ones), amounting to no more than 10 (ten) percent of the number of stage funds or no more than 2,000,000 (two million) tenge.
rental of office space, including for product development.
acquisition of materials, components, and equipment necessary for the creation (improvement) of a product or service for the purpose of approbation and test sales.
10. Financing at the 2nd stage
At the stage of “Starting production (implementation and maintenance) of the product and its implementation (commercialization) on the market” is no more than 80,000,000 (eighty million) tenge
11. What types of costs are covered in Stage 2?
the salary of project team members, including taxes, fees, and other mandatory related payments, amounting to no more than 30 (thirty) percent of the number of stage funds or no more than 24,000,000 (twenty-four million) tenge.
payment for other works and (or) services performed by third parties and (or) co-executors, including those related to the provision of equipment rental.
travel expenses (including foreign ones), amounting to no more than 10 (ten) percent of the amount of stage funds or no more than 8,000,000 (eight million) tenge.
acquisition of licenses, and equipment necessary to create a product or service.
purchase of materials and components necessary to create a product or service.
rent of office and (or) industrial premises.
marketing expenses (purchase of services to promote a product or service) amounting to no more than 10 (ten) percent of the number of stage funds.
The percentage is used only to determine the maximum amount for an expense item.
12. Is co-financing from a business partner or investor allowed?
It is allowed, subject to the provision of documents confirming the availability of funds, or a letter of guarantee from a business partner or investor about the readiness to contribute the amount of co-financing in case of receiving grant funds.
13. How are applications accepted?
A package of documents is accepted by QazInnovations JSC in electronic form on the old.qazinn.kz website.
Applications received after the end of the business day are registered on the next business day.
14. Grounds for refusal to provide an innovation grant
- establishing the unreliability of the documents submitted by the service recipient for the receipt of the public service, and (or) the data (information) contained in them.
- establishing non-compliance of the grant recipient (service recipient), the unreliability of the documents submitted by the applicant for an innovative grant, and (or) the data (information) contained therein with the requirements of these Rules.
- in the event of a negative decision of the Grant Funding Council.
It is not allowed to provide innovative grants if the industrial-innovative project was previously provided with state support for the stated purposes.
15. How is the review process?
The review procedure takes place on a competitive basis in 2 (two) stages:
at stage 1 The applicant sends a preliminary offer to the operator of QazInnovations JSC through the official website old.qazinn.kz. Further, the Council within 10 working days hears the pitching of the applicant’s preliminary proposal, and selects according to the following criteria:
- innovation;
- scalability;
- export orientation;
- composition and qualifications of the project team;
- commercial potential of the project.
Based on the results of hearing preliminary proposals, the Council decides on the admission or refusal of the applicant to the second stage of the competition
at stage 2 The Applicant provides the Operator with a complete offer. Further, the Operator carries out an examination of the full proposal. Based on the results of the examination of applications, an expert opinion is formed for sending to the council. The Applicant is invited to the meeting of the Council to present his project in person or by means of telecommunications with audio and video recording.
Based on the results of the consideration, the Council makes a decision to provide an innovative grant or to refuse to provide it to the service recipient.
16. Examination of applications?
Applications are reviewed in the following areas:
– technological expertise is carried out in order to establish advantages over analogs, technical feasibility, and technological feasibility of the project.
– financial and economic expertise is carried out in order to assess the economic feasibility of the project, as well as the requested amount of funding.
– legal expertise is carried out to analyze the content of the submitted documents for compliance with the current legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Technological, financial, economic, and legal expertise are carried out on projects simultaneously.
17. Term of development of the innovation grant
After the conclusion of the innovation grant agreement, the project implementation period is:
Stage 1: no more than 20 million tenge, the maximum implementation period is 6 months
Stage 2: no more than 80 million tenge, the implementation time of stage 2 is 18 months.
18. Location of projects
The implementation of projects approved for financing is carried out on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, it is necessary to indicate in which region and city or district (village) of Kazakhstan the project will be implemented.
19. What reciprocal obligations are presented to the grantee?
Attracting co-financing of at least 10% of the requested grant amount, increasing the volume of sold innovative products by at least 10%, attracting investments at 2 stages of at least 20% of the stage amount.
20. If we did not pass the acceleration
At the stage of “Starting production (implementation and maintenance) of the product and its
Passing the acceleration program is mandatory, you can find out about existing programs: old.qazinn.kz/homepage-01/accelerators.
implementation (commercialization) on the market” is no more than 80,000,000 (eighty million) tenge
21. If only one team member was previously indicated in the preliminary application, however, when submitting a full proposal, one team member was changed. Will this affect the Council’s decision?
No. The main thing is that the new team member meets all the necessary requirements and is involved in your project as much as possible.
22. Due to the scale of the project, there is a need to change the location of the project. Is it possible to carry out work on the project in different cities in Kazakhstan?
Yes, you can. The main thing is that the project is implemented within the time specified in the application and in the contract.
23. Is it possible to increase the composition of the project team?
Can. However, in this case, the expenses for those employees should not be made from the grant funds, but from the grantee’s own funds.
24. What kind of work should be reflected in the Schedule?
In the Schedule, it is necessary to indicate the types of work that will be done on the project. For example: Setting up automation processes, preparing a clean room, etc.
25. Marketing plan requirements
It is necessary to give a description, as well as an assessment of the market for the product or service. An assessment of the existing and projected demand for products in physical terms and in monetary terms in the domestic and foreign markets is given. In the case of special marketing research, it is necessary to attach the relevant documentation. The advantages and competitiveness of products are substantiated. It is determined what set of technical and cost indicators of products will ensure its competitiveness.
26. In what format it is necessary to attach documents in case of filling out a full proposal.
All documents must be scanned in PDF format and attached to the portal.
27. Where can I find out more about completing a provisional and full application?
On the official YouTube channel of QazInnovations JSC https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAj8we8bnlhVHUNrSGx1rZw