The innovative ORKEN project, developed by students of Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Taraz, took first place at the Pizza Pitch startup competition held at Zhambyl Hub.

The project was created by school students Sheikhislam Nurmukhameduly and Nursultan Serikov. Following the competition, the team received the grand prize of 150,000 tenge.

At the heart of ORKEN is the development of a next-generation soft intelligent exoskeleton designed to support people with mobility impairments, as well as older adults experiencing muscle weakness.

The developers placed particular emphasis on making the technology accessible. Unlike rigid exoskeletons developed abroad, which can cost USD 30,000–100,000, ORKEN is being developed as a more affordable alternative.

The exoskeleton does not move the user’s body for them. Instead, it assists the user in taking natural steps. EMG sensors detect muscle activity before movement begins, after which an ESP32 microcontroller activates the system at the right moment and gently lifts the foot, helping prevent it from dragging during walking.

The device can be put on in approximately two minutes. It operates independently on a rechargeable battery and does not require wired connections. The design also allows the exoskeleton to be adjusted as a child grows.

The developed prototype has already successfully undergone testing at the Nasledie Rehabilitation Center in Almaty.

For the team, this victory marks another important milestone in the development of the project. It is also worth noting that Sheikhislam Nurmukhameduly became a finalist in the EASL 2026 competition organized by Columbia University.

The ORKEN team is now preparing for the next stage — the production of its first pilot batch of 10 devices.

The project supervisors are Inna Aksyonova and Maxim Rybalkin.

Congratulations to Sheikhislam, Nursultan, and the entire ORKEN team on this well-deserved victory! We wish the project continued growth and success as it moves to the next level.