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Kazakhstan Invests in Science, But Economic Impact Remains Low

Over the past five years, Kazakhstan has nearly tripled its research and development (R&D) spending, reaching $430 million in 2024. Despite this, science's contribution to the national economy remains minimal, just 0.16% of GDP. This figure is among the lowest for countries striving toward technological advancement, according to analysts at Ranking.kz. Almaty: Kazakhstan’s Scientific Hub Nearly half of last year’s R&D spending was concentrated in Almaty, which accounted for 43.1% of total investment, equivalent to $186 million. Astana followed with 20.4% ($88 million), while other regions lagged significantly. In the Ulytau region, for instance, only $67,000 was allocated to scientific endeavors. Almaty retains its status as the country’s scientific capital thanks to its concentration of research institutions. Of the 423 organizations engaged in R&D nationwide, 142 are based in the city. Almaty hosts major institutions such as the National Academy of Sciences, the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, the Institute of Seismology, and the Kazakh Institute of Oncology. Human Capital and Scientist Salaries Kazakhstan’s researchers are the backbone of its scientific sector. In 2024, spending on salaries for scientific personnel rose to $226 million, marking a 32.1% increase. Almaty employed 10,600 of the country’s 27,100 researchers, representing 39.2% of the national total. This figure has grown by 20% over the past five years. A key metric of scientific engagement is the number of researchers per 10,000 employed persons. In OECD countries, this figure ranges from 40 to 238. In Kazakhstan, it stands at just 23.7. Almaty leads domestically with 83.2 researchers per 10,000 employed, underscoring its pivotal role. State Dependency and Business Apathy One of the major challenges facing Kazakh science is its overwhelming dependence on public funding. More than 77% of research financing in Kazakhstan comes from the state; in Almaty, this figure is 87.5%. In contrast, government contributions in developed countries average around 40%. This imbalance limits commercialization potential, dampens private sector interest, and constrains technological progress. As noted in a national report on science, “knowledge and innovation in Kazakhstan are separated from the economy. The state’s task is to ensure that R&D results are incorporated into the real sector, to create demand for research, and to stimulate private investment in science”. Alatau: A New Frontier for Scientific Growth One proposed solution lies in the development of Alatau, a newly emerging scientific and innovation hub. Plans are underway to build a "science city" equipped with facilities for start-ups, technology parks, and manufacturing based on R&D. The area will form part of a special economic zone offering tax incentives and large-scale investment opportunities. Combining Almaty's intellectual capital with Alatau’s potential could catalyze the development of a knowledge-based economy and position Kazakhstan competitively in the global technology race.

Media Science Scientific Journal Advances in Nuclear Science and Applications

Kazakhstan’s Institute of Nuclear Physics Launches Advances in Nuclear Science and Applications Journal

Kazakhstan’s Institute of Nuclear Physics has officially launched a new international scientific journal, Advances in Nuclear Science and Applications. The presentation of the first issue took place at the Institute’s headquarters and marks a significant step in the country's efforts to promote nuclear research and academic exchange on a global scale. According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the journal is designed as a high-level international platform that integrates both fundamental and applied research in nuclear science and technology. It aims to foster open knowledge exchange and collaboration across borders. The inaugural issue, published in March 2025, features six peer-reviewed articles covering current topics in nuclear science. The journal will be published quarterly in English, in March, June, September, and December, and will follow international academic publishing standards. All submitted articles undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process, and the journal is fully open access via its official website. The publication is also seeking inclusion in major global scientific databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. The editorial board consists of more than ten recognized experts from eight countries: Russia, Italy, Japan, the United States, Turkey, Poland, Romania, and Kazakhstan, reflecting the journal’s international scope and ambitions. Sayabek Sakhiev, Director General of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, emphasized the significance of the launch: “We have been working towards creating the journal for more than a year. This is the result of serious and purposeful work. Today we have big plans and high expectations. We strictly follow international standards and are confident that Advances in Nuclear Science and Applications will take its rightful place in world science.” The journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Mikhail Itkis, has also extended an invitation to early-career scientists, encouraging young researchers to submit their work for publication in upcoming issues.

Science Organ Storage Technology preservation ALEM device World Expo 2025 Yuri Pya UMC Heart Center donor organs

Kazakh Scientists Unveil Advanced Organ Storage Technology at Expo 2025

A team of Kazakhstani doctors from the UMC Heart Center, led by renowned cardiac surgeon Yuri Pya, presented a groundbreaking development at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan: ALEM, a device designed for long-term preservation of donor organs. Developed with the support of the Heart Center Foundation, ALEM (Astana Life Ex-situ Machine) addresses a pressing issue in Kazakhstan’s vast geographical context, ensuring timely and effective delivery of donor organs across long distances. Extending the Viability of Life The ALEM device can keep a donor heart viable for more than 24 hours by replicating conditions inside the human body, including maintaining precise temperature, oxygen levels, and vital functions. This significantly extends the traditional preservation window of 4-6 hours, offering new potential for transplantation logistics and success rates. From Emergency to Innovation The idea for ALEM was born from necessity. As Pya recalls, “We had a difficult situation, due to weather conditions we couldn’t get a donor heart in time. Then the idea arose to create our own system, more affordable and perhaps even more effective.” The device was developed through interdisciplinary collaboration among cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and engineers. It has already passed preclinical trials on animals and is now preparing for the next phase: clinical testing. More Than Preservation According to Timur Lesbekov, director of the Heart Center’s cardiac surgery department, ALEM offers not only preservation but also therapeutic potential. “This product can be called a breakthrough. To sustain an organ for more than a day is a great achievement. Importantly, the system can also treat organs before transplantation,” he said. Developers hope that showcasing ALEM at Expo 2025 will attract international attention and foster collaboration in the field of transplantology. “This is a historic moment for Kazakhstan,” said Murat Zauyrov, director of the Heart Center Foundation. “It’s the first time we are presenting a major medical innovation on such a global stage. Our aim is to contribute to global medical progress.” Kazakhstan’s Transplant Challenges Kazakhstan currently needs around 10 transplants per million residents annually, according to Pya. Since 2012, 100 heart transplants have been performed, a modest number, but each representing a life saved. “It’s not just a surgery. It’s a complex operation involving air ambulances, police, and coordination across at least five ministries,” he emphasized. Plans are underway to begin serial production of the ALEM device in Astana, which would position Kazakhstan among a select group of countries with a domestically developed system for long-distance organ transport. Expo 2025: A Global Stage for Innovation Expo 2025 in Osaka features participation from 158 countries and nine international organizations. ALEM is on display at the Kazakhstan Pavilion in the “Connecting Lives” zone under the broader theme “Creating a Future Society for Our Lives”. Kazakhstan’s pavilion, designed in the shape of a traditional shanyrak, was presented alongside exhibitions from South Korea, Germany, and Turkey. The opening ceremony was attended by Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, with Kazakhstan’s delegation led by Minister of Trade Arman Shakkaliev.

Innovation Science Women Empowerment Women Changing the World Awards Ophthalmology

Tajik Ophthalmologist Parvina Mirakhmedova Wins Innovation Award in London

Parvina Mirakhmedova, a Tajik ophthalmologist and researcher, has won international acclaim at the prestigious Women Changing the World Awards, held in London. She was the only representative from Central Asia among participants from 55 countries. Mirakhmedova was nominated in three Industry Award categories: Women in Health, Tech Innovation, and Innovation. She won the Tech Innovation Award and took second place in the Women in Health category. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, personally presented Mirakhmedova with the Golden Heart Award, honoring both her professional accomplishments and the broader social impact of her work. In her acceptance speech, Mirakhmedova expressed gratitude to those who supported her journey to London, emphasizing the importance of showcasing Tajikistan's scientific talent on the global stage. Transforming Ophthalmology with Innovation Over recent years, Mirakhmedova has significantly advanced the field of ophthalmology. She developed a new diagnostic algorithm for early-stage glaucoma detection, dramatically lowering the risk of vision loss. Additionally, she created cell-counting software that has standardized the diagnosis of ocular inflammation, notably improving treatment accuracy for uveitis. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals indexed in Scopus. Among her most accessible innovations is a Telegram bot (@ophthalmo_test_bot) that helps doctors monitor inflammation in uveitis, enabling timely treatment adjustments. Personal Struggles Behind the Science Mirakhmedova’s professional journey is rooted in personal adversity. “I lost my father to cancer, and later, my mother became seriously ill. I experienced first hand what patients and their families endure,” she said. These experiences inspired her to drive change in Tajikistan’s medical system. She advocates for the integration of global medical innovations, asserting, “The world is moving forward, innovations are transforming medicine, and Tajikistan must not fall behind.” A Decade of Determination Mirakhmedova began her career at the international Solim Med and private Nurafzo clinics and underwent further training in Germany. Initially, her ideas were met with skepticism. “Innovations are always resisted at first. But eventually, they become indispensable,” she noted. Despite early challenges, she remained committed to her vision, bolstered by support from her mentors at the Abuali Ibni Sino Department of Ophthalmology at the Tajik State Medical University, her family, and her own perseverance. Reaching the award finals marked a turning point. “I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. To those who once said my ideas were useless, this is the answer,” she said. Her recognition in London is not just a personal triumph, it affirms her contributions to medicine on an international scale and signals the potential for transformative change in ophthalmology across the region.

Scholars Ancient Civilizations Language Science

Scientists of Ancient Central Asia Still Relevant in the Modern World; The Idea of the Averaged Turkic Language

There is a debate on social media between Uzbek and Tajik communities about the medieval scholar Ibn Sina. The discussion revolves around the question of nationality — was Ibn Sina Tajik, Uzbek, or something else? Similar debates have emerged about other medieval scholars, including Al-Farabi. Ibn Sina (commonly known in the West as Avicenna) and Al-Farabi were two of the most influential scholars of the Islamic Golden Age. Ibn Sina, known for his contributions to medicine, philosophy, and science, wrote The Canon of Medicine, a foundational text in medical education for centuries. First published in 1025, his work stood as the standard medical textbook in Europe from its translation into Latin in the twelfth century through to the 1650s. Al-Farabi, often called the Second Greatest Teacher after Aristotle, made significant contributions to philosophy, logic, and political theory, shaping intellectual thought in the Islamic world and beyond. To explore this further, TCA spoke with two scholars — Fakhriddin Ibragimov, PhD, and Dr. Bakhtiyor Karimov — who have studied the lives and works of Ibn Sina and Al-Farabi extensively. [caption id="attachment_30258" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Fakhriddin Ibragimov; image courtesy of the subject.[/caption] Fakhriddin Ibragimov, a researcher at the Abu Rayhan Biruni Institute of Oriental Studies, has spent nearly 15 years studying Ibn Sina. According to Ibragimov, historical sources provide no direct evidence of Ibn Sina’s nationality. “Ibn Sina (980 – 1037) was born in the village of Afshona, near Bukhara. Nowhere in his works or those written by his contemporaries is his nationality mentioned,” Ibragimov told TCA. “However, he is identified as a Muslim, like most people in Central Asia at the time. Also, many manuscript sources indicate that he was from Bukhara.” Ibragimov explains. Ibragimov also highlights that Ibn Sina himself wrote about his upbringing, describing how he was raised in an intellectual environment where philosophical and religious discussions were common: “We had a lot of scientific discussions, debates, and gatherings at home. Issues of faith were also raised there. My father and brother adhered to the Ismaili faith [one of the religious movements in Islam that was widespread in the Near and Middle East in the 10th and 11th centuries], but I did not join them,” Ibn Sina wrote. However, he did not mention any ethnic identity in his works or in those written by his contemporaries. [caption id="attachment_30260" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Avicenna at the sickbed, miniature by Walenty z Pilzna, Kraków (ca 1479–1480); image: jbc.bj.uj.edu.pl[/caption] The claim over Ibn Sina’s legacy is widespread. While Uzbeks and Tajiks both regard him as one of their own, Iranians also consider him Persian due to the language of his writings. In 2018, a bust of Abu Ali Ibn Sina was installed in front of the campus of the Autonomous University of Madrid as a gift from the Iranian embassy. The inscription on the bust reads, “Persian physician and philosopher.” Even Jewish scholars have cited him as part of their intellectual heritage. However, Ibragimov argues that Ibn Sina should be seen as a global figure rather...

Parkinson's disease Biology TCA Interviews Science

Kazakh Researchers Uncover Important Step Towards Treating Parkinson’s Disease

Kazakhstan’s reputation in the global scientific community is evolving, thanks to research conducted by local scientists. Aizhan Ahmadi, a doctoral graduate from Nazarbayev University’s (NU) School of Natural, Social, and Human Sciences, and her team have made a discovery that could pave the way for future treatments for Parkinson’s disease. TCA: Tell us about your research. Aizhan: I recently completed my doctoral studies, defended my dissertation, and earned my PhD. Before that, I worked at a university for five years. During my research, I focused on a mutated protein called DJ-1, which is found in patients with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. More than 20 years ago, European scientists identified mutations in DJ-1 in some patients suffering from these diseases. Despite extensive research in dozens of laboratories, the protein’s exact role remained unclear. While analyzing previous studies, we came across a large European research project with an interesting hypothesis about DJ-1. We decided to explore this direction further and we succeeded in proving that DJ-1 has a previously unknown function. Understanding how DJ-1 protects biomolecules is not only crucial for developing new treatment methods for Parkinson’s disease but also for explaining cell aging. This discovery is vital for pharmacologists, as they cannot develop effective drugs without fully understanding a protein’s function. For the first time, we have proven a new function of DJ-1. I believe this is a fundamental breakthrough for both global science and Kazakhstan’s scientific community. We submitted our findings to Nature Communications, a leading scientific journal. After a rigorous eight-month review process, our research was accepted. This was a difficult but rewarding journey. Our study is the first from independent Kazakhstan to be published in such a prestigious journal, making it a landmark achievement for our country. TCA: What challenges come with studying biology in Kazakhstan? Aizhan: Basic biological research is extremely resource-intensive. It takes time, energy, and has no guaranteed results. We invested grant funding and used millions of dollars’ worth of equipment. However, when a discovery is made, its contribution to science and medicine is invaluable. Our study was conducted entirely within Kazakhstan, without relying on foreign laboratories. This is particularly significant because many still doubt whether serious scientific breakthroughs can come from Kazakhstan, especially in biochemistry. Alongside me, my supervisor, Darkhan Utepbergenov, and several undergraduate students participated in the research. Professor Utepbergenov, a Kazakhstani scientist, graduated from Novosibirsk State University, worked in Germany and the U.S. for nearly 20 years, and then returned to Kazakhstan as a professor. He has said that this is his most significant work to date, and even he still finds it hard to believe that such a discovery was made in Kazakhstan. His contribution to both research and teaching at Nazarbayev University has been immense. TCA: As a young woman in science, what motivated you to pursue this path? How can Kazakhstan raise the status of scientists? Aizhan: First and foremost, better financial support is essential. Salary structures need improvement, bureaucratic obstacles must be reduced, and science communication should be...