Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
The International USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival 2026 will be held from November 8 to 10 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
This event invites researchers, professors, and students from around the world to share their innovative discoveries and achievements in various scientific fields.
The congress emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and features key themes such as Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, and Global Health.
TL;DR
- 1Scale and Focus: This congress brings together researchers, professors, and students to discuss interdisciplinary scientific advancements.
- 2Organiser: Hosted by USERN, a global network dedicated to ethical scientific education and research.
- 3Buyer Authority: Participants include top scientists, educators, and industry experts from various fields.
- 4Entry: Registration is open until November 1, 2026, for those interested in attending.
- 5Location: International USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival 2026 takes place in Astana, Kazakhstan. Venue: Astana, Kazakhstan. Scheduled 2026-11-08 to 2026-11-10.
Why visit
Attending the International USERN Congress provides a unique opportunity to connect with leading researchers and educators. Participants can engage in discussions about cutting-edge scientific advancements and gain insights into emerging fields. The congress also offers a platform for young researchers to present their work and receive recognition.
Why exhibit
Exhibiting at the International USERN Congress allows organizations to showcase their latest innovations and research. It provides visibility among a diverse audience of scientists and educators, fostering potential collaborations and partnerships. Exhibitors can also gain valuable feedback from industry leaders and researchers.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Principal investigators and research group leaders in the life, physical and computational sciences
Clinical researchers, physicians and public-health specialists reviewing translational evidence
PhD candidates, postdocs and master's students presenting posters and looking for supervision or lab placements
University faculty and science educators comparing curricula, outreach methods and teaching tools
R&D scientists from biotech, pharma and diagnostics companies scouting academic collaborators
Bioinformatics, AI and research-software specialists building tools for data-intensive science
Research-funding officers, science-policy advisers and ministry or agency representatives
Journal editors, open-science advocates and science communicators covering the Astana programme
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Universities and research institutes recruiting PhD candidates and advertising joint or dual-degree programmes
Biotech, pharma and diagnostics companies presenting pipelines and seeking academic co-development partners
Laboratory equipment, reagent and instrument suppliers serving genomics, imaging and cell-biology labs
Scientific publishers, open-access platforms and abstracting or indexing services
Bioinformatics, AI and lab-data software vendors selling into research institutions
National research agencies, funding bodies and scholarship programmes promoting calls and mobility schemes
Learned societies, science networks and NGOs running education and capacity-building programmes
Clinical research organisations and university technology-transfer offices
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning for biomedical and physical-science research
Genomics, bioinformatics and multi-omics data analysis
Drug discovery, translational medicine and clinical trial methodology
Immunology, infectious disease and vaccine research
Cancer biology and precision oncology
Neuroscience and cognitive science
Environmental science, climate-health links and sustainability research
Laboratory instrumentation, imaging systems and diagnostics
Research data infrastructure, open science and reproducibility tools
Science education, outreach and capacity-building programmes
Location & Facilities
Venue
Astana, Kazakhstan
Astana, Kazakhstan
Facilities
Parking
Astana, Kazakhstan in Astana typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: Astana, Kazakhstan in Astana typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at Astana, Kazakhstan for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Event days & opening times
DayOpening hours
Event days: Confirm daily opening hours on the official registration page
Who runs the show
Organisers
USERN
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Astana, Kazakhstan
Why it matters
Attending the International USERN Congress provides a unique opportunity to connect with leading researchers and educators. Participants can engage in discussions about cutting-edge scientific advancements and gain insights into emerging fields.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · USD
Arrival airports
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport
The primary gateway for the congress. Terminals are small and arrivals are quick, but allow extra time in November for snow and de-icing. Taxi and ride-hailing ranks are outside arrivals; agree the fare or use the app before leaving the terminal
Approx. 15-20 km from central Astana
to venue
Approx. 30-50 min by road depending on traffic and winter conditions
by car
Almaty International Airport
Regional airport serving the event metro - confirm routes with Maps
to venue
by car
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Hotel Lion
3-star
AstanaAstina Inn Hotel
2-star
AstanaGostinitsa Northern Lights
Unrated in capture
AstanaCaps Lock Future Hotel
2-star
AstanaLocal transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
taxi
Estimated costApprox. KZT 4,000-7,000 one way (30-50 min); confirm the meter or app price before leaving arrivals
Best forAstana Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) to Astana, Kazakhstan
The default choice with luggage in November. Pre-book through a ride-hailing app or use the official taxi rank rather than accepting unsolicited offers inside the terminal.
bus
Estimated costApprox. KZT 200-500 single ride per person; confirm which route is currently serving the passenger terminal
Best forNQZ airport to central Astana on city bus routes
Cheapest option but slow with bags and awkward in snow. Payment is usually by transport card, QR or small cash; have tenge ready on arrival.
ride-hailing
Estimated costApprox. KZT 1,200-2,500 per trip depending on distance, traffic and surge; confirm the in-app quote
Best forLeft Bank (Esil) hotel district to the congress venue - cross-city trip
Ride-hailing is well used in Astana and better than street hailing for price certainty. Prices rise at morning and evening peaks and during snowfall.
rail
Estimated costApprox. KZT 12,000-30,000 per berth depending on class and train; confirm with the national rail operator
Best forAlmaty to Astana intercity rail (arrival at Nurly Zhol station)
Overnight trains take roughly 12-20 hours. Only relevant if you are combining the congress with a visit to Almaty; the station is a short taxi ride from central hotels.
parking
Estimated costApprox. KZT 0-1,500 per day; hotels in this listing advertise free parking, city-centre paid lots vary by operator
Best forHotel and venue parking in Astana
All four captured hotels list free parking, which is unusual in a capital city and useful if you rent a car. Confirm whether the congress venue charges delegates for parking.
taxi
Estimated costApprox. USD taxi/rideshare from ALA to venue (estimate; confirm before travel)
Best forAlmaty International Airport (ALA) to Astana, Kazakhstan
No practical road transfer; onward domestic flight of roughly 1.5-2 hours plus airport transfer time; Almaty is Kazakhstan's other major aviation hub, not an airport serving Astana. Use ALA only if the international fare saving outweighs a domestic connection and a possible overn
Weather
Astana sits in northern Kazakhstan and switches to early winter in November. Expect daytime temperatures of roughly -6 to +2 C, overnight lows of -12 to -4 C, frequent snow, ice on pavements and a wind that makes the apparent temperature noticeably lower. Daylight is short, with sunrise around 08:00-08:30 and sunset around 17:15-17:45. Indoor venues are well heated, so layered clothing works better than a single heavy coat. Build a buffer into arrival day and into any taxi transfer, and check the forecast about five days before departure rather than relying on seasonal averages.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Kazakhstan uses the +7 country code. Mobile data is widely available from the national operators, and prepaid SIM registration at NQZ or in the city requires your passport. Roaming from European or Asian carriers can be expensive, so a local prepaid SIM or an eSIM data plan is usually cheaper for a three-day stay. Every hotel captured for these dates lists free Wi-Fi, but check whether it reaches meeting rooms. Electrical supply is 220 V with Type C and F sockets, so most European plugs fit and UK, US and Indian travellers need an adapter.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Language and greetings
Kazakh is the state language and Russian is widely used in business and city life; English is common among university and research staff but less so in shops and taxis. A handshake is the standard greeting at professional meetings, and a few words of Kazakh or Russian are well received.
Dress for a research congress
Business or smart-casual is the norm at scientific congresses in Astana, with a jacket expected at opening ceremonies. Winter clothing is practical rather than formal: pack boots with grip for icy pavements and expect to remove layers indoors.
Tea, hospitality and meetings
Meetings often begin with tea and a short informal conversation before business. Accepting the offer is a normal courtesy, and long goodbyes are common; do not schedule back-to-back appointments too tightly when meeting Kazakh institutions for the first time.
Tipping and payments
Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and shopping centres, but carry some tenge in cash for buses, small cafes and taxis. A tip of around 5-10 percent in restaurants is normal, and rounding up a taxi fare is common practice.
Public behaviour and timing
Punctuality is appreciated at conference sessions, and queues and security checks at venues move slowly, so arrive early on the first morning. Smoking is restricted indoors, alcohol is sold openly in restaurants, and public behaviour is generally reserved and formal.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Destination: NQZ
Book into NQZ, Astana's own airport, unless an itinerary through Almaty is materially cheaper once you add a domestic connection and a possible overnight. Plan to land on 6 or 7 November so a winter delay does not cost you the opening morning on 8 November. Compare refundable and flexible fares, since snow in northern Kazakhstan can disrupt evening arrivals. Enter the congress dates in the search rather than relying on a generic city fare, because business demand during the event can tighten the cabin. If you need a visa, secure it before paying for non-refundable tickets, and check that your ticket name matches your passport exactly.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Primary gateways: Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ): Approx. 30-50 min by road depending on traffic and winter conditions; Almaty International Airport (ALA): Regional airport serving the event metro - confirm routes with Maps. Allow road or rail time to Astana, Kazakhstan; on-site parking is usually available at major exhibition venues.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near Astana, Kazakhstan: Astana: Hotel Lion; Astana: Astina Inn Hotel; Astana: Gostinitsa Northern Lights.
Ride-hail: Ride-hailing works well in Astana and is the simplest way to reach the congress venue from a hotel. Yandex Go is the dominant app in Kazakhstan, and inDrive also operates there; both let you set the pickup point and pay by linked card, which avoids negotiating fares in Russian or Kazakh. Expect short waits in the centre and longer ones at the airport or in heavy snow. Prices are metered in tenge and rise at peak hours and during snowfall. Have the venue address saved in Cyrillic as well as Latin script, since drivers may not read English signage.
Public transit: Astana's public transport is predominantly bus-based, with a large network connecting the Left and Right Banks and the airport corridor. Fares are low by European standards, roughly KZT 200-500 for a single ride on an approximate basis, usually paid by local transport card, QR code or small cash, so keep some tenge. Confirm locally whether any light-rail service is running during your stay, since the city's rail project has been long delayed. For a three-day congress, buses make sense for an inexpensive hotel-to-venue hop in daylight, but taxis are more realistic for evening returns and for arrival day with luggage in the snow.
Parking: All four hotels captured for the 8-10 November window list free parking, an unusual advantage if you plan to rent a car. Central Astana has paid street and mall parking with rates that vary by operator, so confirm the price at the machine or with your hotel rather than assuming. If you drive to the congress venue, check with the organiser whether delegate parking is reserved, whether there is a daily charge, and whether the car park closes overnight. Winter conditions matter more than cost: allow extra time for scraping ice and unplowed side streets before morning sessions.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: November 2026 (early winter in Astana)
Temperature: Daytime highs typically -6 to +2 C, overnight lows -12 to -4 C; climatological normals, so check the five-day forecast before departure
Seasonality: November is a snow month in Astana, with a real chance of snow cover, ice on pavements and occasional blizzard days that slow road traffic. Daylight is short, with sunrise around 08:00-08:30 and sunset around 17:15-17:45, so plan outdoor movement for the middle of the day.
Packing: Pack thermal base layers, a fleece or mid-layer, a windproof and water-resistant outer jacket, gloves, a hat and a scarf, plus boots with a proper grippy sole for icy pavements. Add lip balm and a rich moisturiser for dry cold air, sunglasses for snow glare, and a compact umbrella for wet snow. Bring a Type C/F plug adapter for 220 V sockets, and keep a warm layer in your day bag since session rooms can be either overheated or draughty.
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at International USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival 2026 usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
T-1
14 days out: confirm your registration status and download the confirmation email or badge QR code from usern.org
T-2
14 days out: check the Kazakh visa or visa-free status for your passport and, if needed, request an invitation letter from the organiser with your registration number attached
T-3
13 days out: book the NQZ airport transfer or decide between taxi, ride-hailing and city bus for arrival day
T-4
12 days out: reserve a refundable hotel room in the Left Bank (Esil) district and confirm the free-parking and Wi-Fi amenities on your booking
T-5
10 days out: download the congress programme and mark one plenary plus two parallel sessions per day so you are not choosing on the day
T-6
9 days out: print or save your poster file and a backup PDF if you are presenting, and check the organiser's poster size and mounting rules
T-7
7 days out: check the Astana forecast, then add thermal base layers, gloves, hat and boots with grip to your packing list
T-8
5 days out: install a ride-hailing app and set up a payment card that works abroad, or plan to withdraw Kazakhstani tenge at NQZ
T-9
3 days out: confirm flight times against the 08:00-09:00 registration opening on 8 November and allow a buffer for winter delays
T-10
2 days out: register your out-of-office, share your session schedule with co-authors, and pack a Type C/F plug adapter for 220 V sockets
T-11
1 day out: arrive in Astana, test connectivity with a local prepaid SIM or eSIM, and walk the route from hotel to venue once in daylight
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at Astana, Kazakhstan
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2International USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival 2026 registration concourse
Astana, Kazakhstan
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
Astana, Kazakhstan
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nights$190.00
- Per diem × 2$150.00
Estimated total$340.00
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether International USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival 2026 fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
For International USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival 2026, what is your primary role on the show floor?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Artificial Intelligence applications in research solutions and benchmarking suppliers at International USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival 2026 in Astana.
Min. budget
$6,864.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change - confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Artificial Intelligence applications in research products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$30,888.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall - confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Astana show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
When and where does the Astana science congress take place?
The congress runs 8-10 November 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The exact venue and hall layout are published by the organiser at usern.org; check that page before you book a hotel so you can pick a district within walking or short taxi distance of the sessions.
Who normally attends this congress?
The audience is research-led: principal investigators, clinical and public-health researchers, PhD candidates and postdocs, faculty and science educators, plus R&D staff from biotech and diagnostics companies. Funding-agency and science-policy delegates also take part, which makes the coffee breaks as useful as the sessions for cross-sector conversations.
How do I register, and what does it cost?
Registration is handled through the organiser's site at usern.org. Fee tiers, student rates and deadlines are set by the organiser and were not captured in the material reviewed for this listing, so confirm the current fee page and payment method before you commit to flights.
Can students and early-career researchers present their work?
Yes, student and ECR participation is a core part of this format. Submit an abstract through the organiser's call for abstracts and state your preferred format (oral or poster); acceptance letters then become the basis for any travel grant or visa invitation letter you request.
What abstract format is expected?
Expect a structured summary of roughly one page: title, authors and affiliations, background, methods, results and conclusions, with a short list of keywords. Exact word limits, template and submission deadline are set by the scientific committee on usern.org, so download the current template rather than adapting an older one.
What language are the sessions in?
International science congresses of this type run their scientific programme in English, and abstracts are submitted in English. Confirm on the organiser's site if you plan to bring non-English-speaking colleagues, since some local outreach or opening sessions may be bilingual Kazakh or Russian.
Do I need a visa for Kazakhstan, and can the organiser help?
Kazakhstan operates a visa-free regime for many nationalities on short visits, while other passports require a visa applied for in advance through the official e-visa channel. Check your own nationality's status with the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking, and ask the organiser whether invitation letters are issued for confirmed registrations.
Will I get a certificate of presentation or attendance?
Certificates are typically issued by the organising secretariat after the event, on request or with the final programme pack. Keep your acceptance email, badge and any session confirmation, and ask at the registration desk on the last day if no certificate has been announced.
How do I get from Astana airport to the congress venue?
Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) is the city's gateway, roughly 15-20 km from the centre with a 30-50 minute road transfer depending on traffic. Taxis and ride-hailing are the practical option with luggage; city buses are far cheaper but slower. Confirm the venue address before choosing a hotel.
What is the weather like in Astana in November?
November is early winter in northern Kazakhstan: daytime temperatures hover a few degrees either side of freezing and nights drop well below zero, with snow and ice on pavements common. Bring insulated layers, a windproof outer shell and boots with grip; indoor venues are heated, so layering matters more than one heavy coat.
Are there official hotel rates or a room block?
No room block or negotiated congress rate was captured in the material reviewed. Book a refundable rate early in the Left Bank (Esil) district, where most business hotels sit, and re-check prices about six weeks out when the programme is confirmed.
Glossary
- Abstract
- A short structured summary of a study (background, methods, results, conclusion) that authors submit to the scientific committee for review. Acceptance decides whether the work is programmed as an oral presentation or a poster.
- Plenary session
- A single-topic session that runs without competing parallel tracks, so the whole congress attends the same speakers. Plenaries at science congresses usually sit at the start of the day.
- Parallel track
- One of several simultaneous streams of sessions organised around a discipline or theme. Delegates pick one track per time slot, so check the programme before committing to a theme.
- Poster session
- A scheduled block in which authors stand beside printed or digital posters and discuss results one-to-one. Poster sessions are where early-career researchers usually get their most detailed feedback.
- Peer review
- Independent assessment of a manuscript or abstract by specialists in the same field before publication or acceptance. Congress abstract review follows the same logic, usually with two or more reviewers per submission.
- Preprint
- A complete manuscript posted on a public server before peer-reviewed publication. Preprints are commonly cited at science meetings because they let delegates discuss results months before journal publication.
- Open access
- Publishing or data-sharing arrangements in which readers can access the output without a subscription, usually financed by an article processing charge or an institutional agreement.
- Translational research
- Work that moves a finding from basic laboratory or computational science toward clinical or field application, for example from a biomarker discovery to a validated diagnostic assay.
- Multi-omics
- The combined analysis of several molecular data layers such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics from the same samples, typically requiring dedicated bioinformatics capacity.
- Early-career researcher (ECR)
- A researcher in the years between the doctorate and a stable academic post. Many congresses give ECRs dedicated travel support, mentoring slots or short-talk formats.
- Science diplomacy
- The use of scientific collaboration as a channel between countries and institutions, a recurring theme at congresses that host participants from many national research systems.
- Reproducibility
- The ability of an independent team to repeat a published analysis or experiment and reach the same result. It drives current discussion of data standards, code sharing and reporting checklists.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- International USERN Congress 2026
- USERN Prize Awarding Festival 2026
- science congress Kazakhstan 2026
- USERN events 2026
- International USERN Congress and Prize Awarding Festival 2026 Astana
- International USERN Congress Astana 2026
- Prize Awarding Festival Astana 2026
- USERN 2026
- USERN Astana 2026
- Astana Kazakhstan
1 more alternate names hidden
Digital business cards for the show floor
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.