Diana Sitenko

The implementation of innovative renewable energy projects is designed to meet the growing electricity demand and reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. In order to avoid resource dependence of the economy and meet the demand for electricity in remote areas of Kazakhstan, the development of renewable energy sources is urgent. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of the implementation of existing mechanisms for the implementation of innovative renewable energy projects through auctions. Moreover, it identifies their shortcomings and offers proposals for improvement. The analysis uses data from the Kazakhstan Bureau of National Statistics on renewable energy sources, namely alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power plants, excluding biogas. The methodology provides for the assessment of projects implemented through auctions for 2018–2021, taking into account such indicators as the dynamics of the number of wind and solar energy projects, their capacity, the percentage of auction price reduction for a specific year. The paper discusses the mechanism for conducting auctions of solar and wind electricity, which, through the auction organizer, connects authorized bodies and investors. The main indicators of auctions for individual years are noted, and the main shortcomings of this mechanism are identified. The analysis of barriers to innovative renewable energy project implementation revealed the presence of contradictions in the price regulation of renewable electricity, the lack of market pricing mechanisms, and the unpreparedness of the energy infrastructure for integration with renewable sources.

Acknowledgment
This research is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP13268750).

The transition to an innovative economy requires greater attention to creating favorable conditions for the commercialization of scientists’ developments and the possibility of realizing the accumulated scientific potential. This study aimed to examine the commercialization process in the Republic of Kazakhstan and identify factors influencing the development of academic entrepreneurship in universities. It examines a gradual change in legislation on technology transfer and the dynamics of implemented commercialization projects during 2016–2022. Structured interviews were conducted with academics of the biggest 14 universities in Kazakhstan with a sample of 209 respondents to identify factors influencing the desire of scientists to engage in academic entrepreneurship. The findings revealed that the most attractive factors for academics are flexible working hours (4.67 of 5), the opportunity to implement their own innovative ideas (4.12), and an increase in income (3.63). In turn, negative factors include the lack of qualified personnel (4.56), difficulties in legislation (4.27), and bureaucratic barriers (3.78). The study revealed that gender and age moderately affected scholars’ desire to engage in academic entrepreneurship (Cramer’s V = 0.3025). The greatest desire to start their own business was demonstrated by men aged 26-35 years and by women aged 36-45 years. The findings also show that the scientific fields positively affect the number of ready-made ideas, patents, and technologies that academics offer to businesses.

Acknowledgment
This study is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP13268750).