ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT INSTRUMENTS FOR STIMULATING THE INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL OF THE REGIONS OF KAZAKHSTAN

This article comprehensively evaluates the effectiveness of government instruments aimed at stimulating regional innovation and entrepreneurial potential in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It examines government support mechanisms for entrepreneurship, including financial, infrastructural, and educational instruments. It also analyzes regional differences in the development of small and medium-sized businesses, innovation activity, and youth engagement in entrepreneurship. The study aims to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of government instruments for stimulating the innovation and entrepreneurial potential of the regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, identify their impact on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, innovation activity, and the reduction of regional disparities, and develop recommendations for improving public policy based on a differentiated regional approach. The study's methodological basis includes systematic and comparative analysis, as well as economic and statistical processing of official data from the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan. Using aggregated key indicators, the study assessed regional innovation and entrepreneurial potential and showed its dependence on the scale and structure of government support. It was found that existing instruments contribute to the growth of entrepreneurial activity; however, their impact on reducing regional disparities remains limited. The study identifies structural constraints associated with the uneven distribution of resources and the differentiation of territorial infrastructure development. The paper proposes directions for optimizing government policy based on a differentiated regional approach, including strengthening institutional coordination, developing regional innovation ecosystems, and improving the effectiveness of entrepreneurship support programs. The results can be used to develop regional development strategies and improve public policy instruments to support innovative entrepreneurship.

1. Rodzinka J., Skica T., Ociepa-Kicińska E., Czyżycki R. (2023) What works and what does not work in local entrepreneurship support policy? Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review. Vol. 11. No. 3. P. 163–180. https://doi.org/10.15678/EBER.2023.110310 [in English].

2. Srinivas H. The Role of Local Governments in Fostering Business Partnerships for Environmental Sustainability. GDRC Research Output E-076. 2022. Available at: — URL: https://www.gdrc.org/sustbiz/bizpartnerships.html [in English] (accessed:12.12.2025).

3. Byuro nacional'noj statistiki Agentstva po strategicheskomu planirovaniyu i reformam Respubliki Kazahstan. Statisticheskie dannye po malomu i srednemu predprinimatel'stvu v regional'nom razreze. [Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Statistical data on small and mediumsized businesses by region]. Available at: — URL: https://stat.gov.kz [in Russian] (accessed: 26.11.2025)

4. Sahanova G.B. Podderzhka predprinimatel'stva v Kazahstane [Support of entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan]. Vestnik universiteta «Turan». №3. 2020. Р. 34–41. https://doi.org/10.46914/1562-2959-2020-1-3-34-41 [in Russian]

5. Davidenko L.M., Bespalyj S.V., Bekniyazova D.S. Innovacionno-tekhnologicheskoe razvitie ekonomiki predprinimatel'stva [Innovative and technological development of the entrepreneurial economy]. Vestnik universiteta «Turan». №1. 2020. Р. 28–32. [in Russian]

6. Shajhutdinova A.K., Selezneva I.V., Abdil'din S.S. Gosudarstvennaya politika Kazahstana v oblasti razvitiya predprinimatel'stva [State policy of Kazakhstan in the field of entrepreneurship development]. Vestnik universiteta «Turan». 2019. №1. Р. 30–35. [in Russian]

7. Sejsenbaeva A., Imramzieva M., Maukenova A. Vliyanie gosudarstvennoj podderzhki na innovacionnuyu deyatel'nost' malogo i srednego biznesa v Kazahstane [The impact of state support on the innovative activities of small and medium businesses in Kazakhstan]. Ekonomicheskaya seriya vestnika ENU im. L.N. Gumileva. №3. 2023. Р. 279– 290. https://doi.org/10.32523/2789-4320-2023-3-279-290 [in Russian]

8. Zhumabekov A., Osmanov ZH., Zubec A. Ocenka effektivnosti programm gosudarstvennoj podderzhki predprinimatel'stva v Kazahstane [Evaluation of the effectiveness of state support programs for entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan]. Ekonomicheskaya seriya vestnika ENU im. L.N. Gumileva. №4. 2025.Р. 293–310. https://doi.org/10.32523/2789-4320-2025-4-293-310 [in Russian]

9. Ministerstvo nacional'noj ekonomiki Respubliki Kazahstan. Nacional'nyj doklad o regional'nom razvitii Respubliki Kazahstan. [Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. National Report on Regional Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan]. Available at: — URL: https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/economy [in Russian] (accessed: 26.12.2025)

10. Nacional'naya palata predprinimatelej Respubliki Kazahstan «Atameken». Godovoj otchet o sostoyanii regional'nogo predprinimatel'stva. [National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan «Atameken». Annual Report on the State of Regional Entrepreneurship]. Available at: — URL: https://atameken.kz [in Russian] (accessed: 29.12.2025)