Chinese robot maker UBTECH Robotics' localisation project in Kazakhstan has moved from signed agreements to construction and a production schedule. Yerlan Nabiyev, CEO of partner company NERO Group, told the Kazakhstan-China Investment Forum in Almaty on 25 September that production is based in the Park of Innovative Technologies special economic zone. Educational robotics kits go into production in October, with planned capacity of up to 50,000 kits a year. Localisation of service and humanoid robots begins in the second quarter of 2027, at 1,000 robots a year. According to the Almaty akimat (city administration) in July, this is UBTECH's first own production facility outside China.
Where the $440 million comes from
Nabiyev put the investment at about $440 million. Kursiv and infohub.kz report the split: $340 million is a fee for the transfer of UBTECH's humanoid robot manufacturing technology, and the remaining $100 million is NERO Group's own money.
For now this is the company's figure only. Kazakhstan Today pointed out that the $440 million had not appeared in previously published official materials, and neither UBTECH nor the akimat has confirmed it in writing. It is best read as an indication rather than a final number.
Going by the reported split, most of the money is for the technology licence, while the buildings, lines and staff come from the Kazakh partner. That is different from the wholly owned overseas plant many Chinese companies build; it is closer to a model where the Chinese side brings technology and content and a local partner brings capital and capacity.
Three steps in a year
The first came in November 2025. During Almaty mayor Darkhan Satybaldy's visit to Shanghai, the akimat, UBTECH and NERO Group signed a preliminary letter of intent to set up a joint venture in Almaty to make and deploy AI-based educational and service robots. The roles were spelled out: UBTECH provides teaching materials, methods, software, technology and engineering solutions, plus its production technology for educational and service robots; NERO Group provides manufacturing capacity in Almaty and technical staff and takes part in running the joint venture; the akimat helps build links with the government bodies responsible for education, AI and digital development. The parties also agreed to complete a joint market study by the end of 2026 and decide whether making service robots in Almaty for Kazakhstan and Central Asia makes economic sense.
The second came in July 2026. At a business forum in Shanghai, the Almaty akimat, Nero Robotics and UBTECH founder Zhou Jian signed an agreement to build a plant for humanoid and educational robots. The akimat said then that construction had started, that launch was planned for the first quarter of 2027, and that the plant would include an engineering and research centre and training for Kazakh specialists.
The third was the September forum. Nabiyev gave the investment and capacity figures and said a centre of about 25,000 square metres for R&D, programming and production is being built in the SEZ.
Schools first, then services and industry
The rollout order is education first, then services, logistics and industry. Nabiyev said the aim is not to replace people with robots but to give them helpers, and that entertainment is not a priority.
The education plan is the most detailed. Under an order from the Almaty akimat, about 30 schools in the city will receive robotics equipment by the end of 2026, with more than 200 more by 2028. Students will assemble and programme robots and learn the basics of AI. Kursiv adds that the equipment will be supplied through public procurement.
Rules related to this news
NERO Group is working with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Satbayev University and other institutions and plans to bring researchers into development work. The Astana Times quoted Nabiyev as saying NERO Group has more than 200 employees and experience in electronics and circuit board manufacturing.
Where the numbers do not match
The launch dates differ. In July the akimat spoke of a launch in Q1 2027; at the forum the timeline was educational kits from October this year and humanoid localisation from Q2 2027. These may refer to the plant as a whole and to individual product lines, but there has been no public explanation.
The number of schools also varies: Kazakhstan Today, Kazinform and infohub.kz say 30 schools by year-end, while Kursiv says 60. We use 30, the figure given by most sources and by Nabiyev in the quoted remarks.
The investment figure, as noted, is known only from the company.
What Chinese companies may want to watch
Supply chain. Local assembly of humanoids and kits needs servo motors, reducers, sensors, batteries and structural parts. It has not been disclosed whether key components will be imported from China or what the localisation rate will be. Chinese makers of such parts may want to follow NERO Group's procurement.
Access to Kazakhstan's school market. Equipment in this project goes through public procurement, starting with Almaty's state schools. Other Chinese ed-tech companies looking at Kazakhstan should study the public procurement rules and plan for Kazakh- and Russian-language content early.
The partnership model itself. The akimat brokers, an SEZ hosts, the Chinese side supplies technology and content, and a local company puts up capital and builds the plant. In Kazakhstan this combination now has a concrete timetable. It can serve as a reference point, but the terms of any deal need to be checked with the partner and the relevant authorities.
What to watch next: whether educational kit deliveries start in October, what the joint market study concludes by the end of 2026, and whether the humanoid line launches in Q2 2027.
Sources:
Kazakhstan Today, 25 September 2026, https://www.kt.kz/eng/government/kazakhstan_to_begin_producing_educational_robots_in_almaty_1378000573.html
Kursiv, 25 September 2026, https://kz.kursiv.media/en/2026-09-25/engk-nknk-almaty-robotics-plant-worth-440-million-takes-shape-with-chinese-partner/
Kazinform (Chinese edition), 25 September 2026, https://cn.inform.kz/news/zhongjiangzaizuoshengrenjiren-44-3cb177c3/
The Astana Times, September 2026, https://astanatimes.com/2026/09/kazakhstan-china-advance-440-million-robotics-localization-project/
infohub.kz, September 2026, https://infohub.kz/zh-cn/article/almaty-robot-zavod-investitsii-kazahstan-kitay
Forbes Kazakhstan, 16 July 2026, https://forbes.kz/articles/kitayskaya-kompaniya-postroit-v-almaty-zavod-robotov-dd58e8
Kapital.kz, November 2025, https://kapital.kz/tehnology/142188/v-almaty-sozdadut-sovmestnoe-predpriyatie-s-ubtech-robotics.html
Almaty.tv, November 2025, https://almaty.tv/ru/news/dgizn-megapolisa/akimat-almaty-ubtech-robotics-i-nero-group-podpisali-soglashenie-o-sovmestnom-predpriiatii
Key facts
- UBTECH and NERO Group are collaborating on a robot production project in the "Innovation Technology Park" special economic zone in Almaty.
- Production of the educational robot kits is scheduled to begin in October, with a planned maximum annual capacity of 50,000 kits.
- Local production of service robots and humanoid robots is planned to begin in Q2 2027, with planned annual output of 1,000 units.
- NERO Group CEO Nabiyev stated that the project investment would be approximately US$440 million, but this amount has not been officially disclosed in writing.
- The Almaty city government has arranged for an initial group of approximately 30 schools to receive robot teaching equipment by the end of 2026.
FAQ
Where in Kazakhstan is the project located?
The project is located in the "Innovation Technology Park" special economic zone in Almaty, where NERO Group is building a center of approximately 25,000 square meters for R&D, programming and production.
When will local production of educational robots and humanoid robots begin?
Production of the educational robot kits is scheduled to begin in October, while service robots and humanoid robots are planned to begin local production in Q2 2027. The Almaty city government previously stated that the factory was expected to commence operations in Q1 2027, but the public materials have not yet explained the difference between the two timelines.
Has the project investment amount been officially confirmed?
NERO Group CEO Nabiyev stated that the project investment would be approximately US$440 million, reportedly including US$340 million for technology transfer and US$100 million to be funded by NERO Group. This amount has not yet appeared in any publicly available official materials, and neither UBTECH nor the Almaty city government has issued written information.
Which schools will receive the robot equipment?
Under an order from the Almaty city government, an initial group of approximately 30 schools is planned to receive robot teaching equipment by the end of 2026, with the project expected to reach more than 200 schools in 2028. The school equipment is supplied through government procurement channels, but reports differ on the number of schools.
What should Chinese component suppliers monitor?
The project requires components such as servo motors, reducers, sensors, batteries and structural parts. Public materials do not specify whether core components will be imported from China or the extent to which they will be localized. Further attention can be paid to NERO Group's procurement arrangements.