The Robotics & AI complex that Kazakhstan's QAZBOT Technologies is building with Chinese humanoid robot developer AgiBot has moved from a signed agreement to construction and product planning. The company puts phase-one investment at about $200 million, and work on the Astana site began on 18 August. At AI & Digital Bridge 2026 in early October, QAZBOT CEO Vladislav Safarov named the first three product lines and said pilots would run in Astana and Almaty.
One month from signing to groundbreaking
The two companies signed their agreement in Shanghai in July, at a Kazakh-Chinese round table with heads of high-tech firms. QAZBOT said at the time that the deal covered the first phase of a regional robotics and AI centre in Astana, with initial investment of more than $200 million and design and construction due to start in August.
That schedule largely held. Construction began on 18 August, with representatives of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Astana city administration and AgiBot at the ceremony. Kazinform, citing the ministry, described it as Kazakhstan's first Robotics & AI complex. The next day QAZBOT hosted a robotics forum at the Alem.AI International Centre for Artificial Intelligence, where AgiBot demonstrated its humanoid robots and both companies met Kazakh businesses to discuss sector pilots.
What goes into the complex
According to the company, phase one includes production facilities, an engineering centre, service infrastructure and a Data Factory that trains AI models on data collected while the robots are working. R&D, software and AI model development, testing and adaptation, localised production and engineer training will share one site.
At the groundbreaking Safarov put the goal plainly: rather than simply importing finished products, QAZBOT wants a full cycle in Kazakhstan, from development to deployment. Target sectors listed by the company include manufacturing, logistics, finance, healthcare, education, social services and urban infrastructure.
First products and pilots
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According to the government press service's report from the exhibition, the Astana regional hub will start with three product lines: humanoid robots, robot dogs (RobotDogs) and service robots for shopping centres and hotels. Pilots will cover Astana and Almaty, where robots will provide information to the public at LRT facilities, social institutions and other locations.
One clarification. Some media reports of the exhibition remarks named Unitree as the partner. The government page and the July reports on the signing both name AgiBot, and this article follows those sources.
What has not been disclosed
No completion date for phase one, planned output or job numbers have been announced. The $200 million figure is the company's own estimate, and the financing structure and partners' shares have not been published.
What it means for Chinese companies
This is a different model from exporting finished machines: the Chinese side comes in as a technology and strategic partner, while the Kazakh company handles localisation, data and deployment. As pilots progress, demand may emerge for components, sensors, batteries, system integration, maintenance and solutions for malls, hotels and transport. Since the timing and scale of serial production are not yet set, companies following the project should rely on later announcements from the partners and the relevant Kazakh authorities.
Sources:
Official information resource of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (October 2026), https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/peredovye-ii-iniciativy-i-tehnologicheskie-proekty-na-vystavke-ai-digital-bridge-2026-31952
Kazakhstan Today (3 October 2026), https://www.kt.kz/rus/science/gumanoidnyh_robotov_i_robosobak_planiruyut_proizvodit_v_1378001255.html
Tengrinews (17 July 2026, signing), https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/qazbot-technologies-agibot-podpisali-soglashenie-sozdanii-604126/
Tengrinews (August 2026, groundbreaking), https://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/kazahstane-nachalos-stroitelstvo-zavoda-gumanoidnyih-robotov-606453/
Kazinform (19 August 2026, citing the Ministry of AI and Digital Development), https://qazinform.com/news/kazakhstan-begins-construction-of-its-first-humanoid-robot-factory-b30636
Kursiv (18 August 2026, citing Atameken Business), https://kz.kursiv.media/2026-08-18/kaye-v-astane-nachali-stroit-zavod-gumanoidnyh-robotov-za-200-mln/
Kazakhtelecom B2B (September 2026), https://b2b.telecom.kz/ru/news/business/v-astane-nachali-stroit-kompleks-po-proizvodstvu-gumanoidnyh-robotov
Key facts
- The robotics and AI complex jointly pursued by QAZBOT and 智元机器人 broke ground in Astana on August 18.
- QAZBOT disclosed that Phase I investment in the complex will be approximately US$200 million.
- Phase I of the complex will include production facilities, an engineering R&D center, service facilities, and a data factory.
- The Astana regional center plans to produce humanoid robots, quadruped robot dogs, and service robots for shopping malls and hotels as its first products.
- Pilot programs for the project will initially be conducted in Astana and Almaty, with the robots expected to provide information and assistance at locations such as light rail stations.
- The Phase I completion date, planned annual production volume, and number of jobs have not yet been disclosed.
FAQ
Which companies are collaborating on the project?
QAZBOT Technologies of Kazakhstan and 智元机器人, a Chinese humanoid robot company, are collaborating on the project, which has entered the construction and product planning stage.
How much is the Phase I investment, and what other information has not been disclosed?
The company disclosed that Phase I investment will be approximately US$200 million. The Phase I completion date, planned annual production volume, number of jobs, investment structure, and respective investment shares of the parties have not yet been disclosed.
What are the first products, and where will the pilot programs be conducted?
The first products planned are humanoid robots, quadruped robot dogs, and service robots for shopping malls and hotels. Pilot programs will initially be conducted in Astana and Almaty.
What will be built in Phase I?
Phase I will include production facilities, an engineering R&D center, service facilities, and a data factory. The data factory will be used to train AI models with data from the robots’ actual operation.
What does the project mean for Chinese companies?
Unlike the export of complete machines, the project involves 智元机器人 participating as a technology and strategic partner, while QAZBOT is responsible for localized production, data accumulation, and implementation in practical scenarios. Supporting demand may emerge in areas such as components, sensors, batteries, systems integration, and operation and maintenance services.