QazEcoRec, one of the winners of NU Impact Foundation’s Social Startup 2026 program, secured second place in the Research Pitch competition at the international AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum. Founded by NU alumni, the startup is developing an environmentally friendly alternative for the construction industry by producing paving tiles from industrial waste.
QazEcoRec was founded by Saken Sandybay and Bekarys Omarov. The project builds on scientific research aimed at developing alternatives to conventional construction materials. The team uses geopolymer technology to produce paving tiles from metallurgical slag without Portland cement.
This approach enables the reuse of industrial waste and has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of construction material production. According to the team’s estimates, the technology could reduce CO₂ emissions by 40–60% compared to conventional cement-based materials.
In August 2026, QazEcoRec was named one of four winners of Social Startup 2026, an NU Impact Foundation program supporting entrepreneurial projects that address social and environmental challenges. The team received KZT 3 million in grant funding to further develop its technology.
The startup has also participated in the ABC and GCIP Kazakhstan programs. The team has been preparing to pilot its paving tiles on the NU campus.
Winning second place in the Research Pitch competition at AI & Digital Bridge 2026 marks another important milestone for the team and provides an opportunity to showcase its technology to a wider professional audience.
Supporting projects that emerge from university research and find practical applications is an important priority for NU Impact Foundation. QazEcoRec demonstrates how a scientific idea can evolve from a laboratory concept into a technology startup addressing real-world environmental challenges.
Congratulations to the QazEcoRec team on this achievement!