Kazakhstan plans to increase spending on scientific research to 1% of GDP. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced this at a meeting with rectors of leading universities and heads of scientific institutes in Germany, according to infohub.kz.
The head of state identified joint scientific research as a second key area of cooperation. "Kazakhstan, striving to integrate into the European Research Area, has started negotiations to join the Horizon Europe program as an associated member. Our country is already a full member of the European Raw Materials Partnership with a total budget of over 300 million euros. The TiBeRIUM project is a practical example of such cooperation. Launched this year with financial support of 7.5 million euros from the Horizon Europe program and coordinated by the Freiberg Mining Academy, the project brings together the East Kazakhstan Technical University and the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. The goal of this project is to develop low-carbon production chains for titanium and beryllium. We should expand exactly this kind of cooperation that unites universities, science, and industry, strengthens supply chains, and ensures a transition from raw materials to products and technologies with higher added value," he said.
According to the President, the third area of partnership is technology transfer. Kazakhstan is increasing spending on scientific research to 1 percent of GDP while creating incentives for companies to invest in university research. In this context, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invited German entrepreneurs to open engineering laboratories and technology transfer centers at joint institutions, expressing readiness to support such initiatives through co-financing.
The head of state paid special attention to artificial intelligence, which opens prospects for taking cooperation to a new level. "Under the AI-Sana program, more than 700,000 students have acquired certified skills in AI. We have deployed the alem.cloud supercomputer cluster, opened a specialized research university in this field, and adopted one of the region's first laws on AI. All these efforts are complemented by advanced supercomputer technologies. This creates new opportunities for cooperation with German scientific institutions and industry. Our tech-oriented younger generation can become a reliable partner for German companies and researchers. Kazakhstan, in turn, can provide a platform for testing applied digital solutions and Industry 4.0 technologies," he emphasized.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also noted the historical connection between Kazakh and German intellectual traditions, mentioning the translation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem "Wanderer's Night Song" into Kazakh by the great Kazakh poet and thinker Abai Kunanbaiuly. According to him, this translation became one of the first intellectual bridges between the two peoples.
In conclusion, the head of state called on the leaders of leading universities and scientific institutes in Germany and Kazakhstan to combine the potential of the two countries to implement new projects.