Kazakhstan is taking a bold step towards bridging the gap between academia and industry with a new format of “scientific-technical sessions” aimed at driving innovation in key sectors.
The inaugural session, focusing on “Modern Methods of Leaching and Prospects for their Application in the Mining and Metallurgical Industry of Kazakhstan,” was held on 11 February at Karaganda Technical University. Organised with support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and leading mining corporation “Kazakhmys,” the event brought together scientists, experts, and industry representatives to explore cutting-edge technologies in hydrometallurgy.
“These scientific-technical sessions represent a new paradigm for the interaction between science and industry,” emphasised Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, during the opening ceremony.
New Funding Models and Collaboration
Besides promoting collaboration, the event signified a shift in how Kazakhstan finances its scientific research. Minister Nurbek highlighted this new approach, stating, “We are moving towards a model where our researchers, institutes, and universities work directly with large enterprises. The goal is to identify real-world problems and develop solutions that directly benefit these industries.”
He cited several successful examples of this model in action, emphasizing its potential to propel Kazakhstan’s leading companies into a new technological era.
The culmination of the event was the presentation of these prototypes and project solutions, demonstrating the tangible outcomes of this innovative approach to science-industry collaboration.
