ASTANA (TCA) — Kazakhstan has launched a $110 million project to promote productive innovation, Deputy Minister of Education and Science Bibigul Asylova told a press conference on August 15, the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.
“In 2015 Kazakhstan adopted the Law ‘On commercialization of scientific and technical activities’. Within the implementation of this law we have signed an agreement with the World Bank on the implementation of the project ‘Promoting productive innovation’. This project aims to involve the private sector in the development of science and the national innovation system of Kazakhstan. The aim of the project is to encourage high-quality, relevant technology commercialization. The project’s duration is 5 years. The total amount is $110 million,” she said.
According to the deputy minister, the project includes three contests for grants for interested scientists and representatives of the private sector, as well as for senior and junior researchers.
Meanwhile, at a press conference on August 15, the World Bank Country Manager in Kazakhstan, Yeraly Beksultan, said that Kazakhstan will create an International Science Council, which will be formed within the project “Promoting productive innovation”. The Council will include seven international scientists and experts and two Kazakh scientists.
“The purpose of this Council is to provide independent and high-quality selection of projects, as well as to support selected projects and to achieve certain results,” Beksultan said.
The Council functions would also include selection of proposals and monitoring of research projects funded by grants. In addition, the Council will evaluate the efficiency of research and development of commercialization projects.
