Kazakhstan’s higher education and research sector has reached a landmark milestone after a domestic university secured its first victory in a competitive call under Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme. East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU) has become a full partner in the international TiBeRIUM project, marking an unprecedented step for Kazakhstani universities in EU-funded research cooperation.
TiBeRIUM (Titanium and Beryllium for European Resilience and Innovative Utilization of Minerals) is coordinated by TU Bergakademie Freiberg in Germany and brings together a consortium of 25 partners from 12 countries, including Germany, Greece, Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Norway, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The project focuses on building sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials and advancing environmentally friendly technologies for the processing of titanium and beryllium. Its total budget is estimated at around €8 million.
Kazakhstan is represented in the project by EKTU, Tenir Group LLP, and Ulba Metallurgical Plant JSC. According to the university, EKTU’s participation is the result of long-term, systematic efforts by its research teams. During the proposal preparation phase between May and September 2025, EKTU specialists held 18 formal coordination meetings, alongside dozens of technical sessions covering scientific pathways, industrial case studies, environmental impact, and data management. The process also included extensive consultations with industrial partners and in-person international meetings in Germany and Uzbekistan.
As a result, EKTU joined TiBeRIUM as a full-fledged partner, with responsibilities considered strategically important for achieving the project’s objectives. University representatives noted that this outcome reflects the strength of EKTU’s research infrastructure, scientific management, and professional expertise.
The achievement was also attributed to sustained support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which has been investing in the development of national research capacity. Project participants emphasized that participation in Horizon Europe is not an endpoint, but the beginning of a new phase in which Kazakhstani science and engineering aim to play a more active role in developing technologies, strengthening human capital, and contributing to global value chains in critical minerals.
