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Quantum Technologies

Kazakhstan-Singapore Center for Quantum Technologies Opens at Farabi University

The Kazakhstan-Singapore Center for Quantum Technologies has been inaugurated at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty. The project, implemented in partnership with Singapore-based ASTRASEC PTE. LTD and Qubitera LLP, aims to serve as a foundation for developing a national quantum technology ecosystem in Kazakhstan. According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the center will focus on both fundamental and applied research, the training of researchers, engineers, and technology entrepreneurs, and the development of quantum-secure communication and computing solutions. It also plans to facilitate the transfer of advanced international expertise and support the creation of joint technology startups. The first phase of the project includes the launch of a laboratory dedicated to quantum cryptography and quantum communications. The facility is equipped with photonic systems and experimental infrastructure intended for research and specialist training. At the opening ceremony, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek said that the world is entering what he described as a “quantum revolution,” noting that traditional silicon-based digital and computing technologies are approaching their practical limits. He stated that the establishment of the center creates new opportunities for the development of Kazakhstan’s scientific and technological capacity. KazNU Rector and Chairman of the Board Zhanseit Tuimebayev emphasized the importance of integrating academia and industry, describing the center as part of the university’s strategy to transform into a research-oriented institution of international standing. He said cooperation with Singaporean partners would help combine academic expertise with advanced technological experience. Zhang Yinghua, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASTRASEC PTE. LTD, described the development of quantum technologies as strategically important for national information security and digital resilience, highlighting quantum communication as a growing global priority. The inauguration concluded with a roundtable discussion focused on the center’s future development, quantum cybersecurity, industrial partnerships, and intellectual property protection for joint projects.

Healthcare technology

Kazakh Scientists Launch Medical Exoskeleton for Stroke Rehabilitation

Researchers at Nazarbayev University have completed development and secured state registration for a medical exoskeleton designed to aid stroke rehabilitation. The device is now ready for clinical use and mass production, according to the university’s press service. Named the Astana Gait Exoskeleton Assisted Rehabilitation (A.GEAR), the system is intended to help restore motor function in stroke survivors and individuals with musculoskeletal disorders. It received official certification following a positive evaluation from the National Center for Expertise of Medicines and Medical Devices. Nazarbayev University stated that this is one of the few high-tech medical solutions developed domestically that has received full clinical approval. Cost efficiency is cited as A.GEAR’s main competitive advantage. According to project estimates, the exoskeleton is several times more affordable than foreign alternatives, reducing Kazakhstan’s reliance on imports and increasing accessibility to modern rehabilitation tools. Professor Prashant Jamwal, the project lead, noted that it took just four years to progress from a lab concept to a certified medical product far shorter than the global average of 10 to 15 years. He added that the system could not only replace imported equipment but also reduce public expenditure on rehabilitation technologies. The project began in late 2021 at the university’s Medical Robotics Competence Center. Clinical trials took place in Karaganda and Astana, involving stroke patients and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Following the successful trials, the team began negotiations for a long-term contract with SK-Pharmacy LLP and sought a commercial distributor. Commercialization is being overseen by Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, led by Nazarbayev University graduate Shyngys Dauletbayev. In 2026, the university’s technopark aims to produce at least five exoskeleton units, with plans to scale production for distribution to medical institutions nationwide. University President Professor Waqar Ahmad highlighted that Nazarbayev University researchers rank among the top 2% of scientists globally, based on a bibliometric analysis by Stanford University. According to the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, approximately 40,000 people in the country suffer strokes annually, underlining a consistent demand for advanced rehabilitation solutions. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is also expanding the use of artificial intelligence for early diagnosis of strokes and cancer.

Healthcare

Kazakh Science Ministry Expands Strategic Partnership with AstraZeneca

Kazakhstan has entered a new phase of cooperation with British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, expanding the partnership beyond healthcare into science, education, and innovation. On January 26, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek visited AstraZeneca’s Discovery Centre in Cambridge, the company’s largest global research and innovation hub, where a memorandum of understanding was signed with AstraZeneca Kazakhstan. According to the ministry, the agreement paves the way for new areas of collaboration aimed at strengthening national scientific capacity, introducing advanced medical technologies, and enhancing the long-term sustainability of Kazakhstan’s healthcare system. The partnership will focus on several strategic areas: Real-World Data (RWD) and Real-World Evidence (RWE): Development of advanced data analytics tools to support scientific research, clinical decision-making, and evidence-based healthcare policy. Expansion of the Young Health Program: Prevention of non-communicable diseases among youth and the promotion of responsible health behaviors. Sustainable Development and Economic Diversification: Joint initiatives in environmental protection, green technologies, and sustainable business practices. Early Diagnosis and Healthcare Resilience: Implementation of modern screening methods, specialist training, and development of diagnostic infrastructure. Nurbek highlighted that the memorandum creates new opportunities to integrate research, education, and real-world clinical practice. “It is important not only to develop fundamental science, but also to ensure the transfer of advanced technologies and data into everyday medical practice. This partnership strengthens Kazakhstan’s scientific and biomedical potential,” he said. AstraZeneca has steadily expanded its operations in Kazakhstan in recent years. In April 2024, the Ministry of Healthcare, the Almaty city administration, national investment agency Kazakh Invest, and AstraZeneca signed an agreement on the contract manufacturing of biotechnological products. The initiative supports Kazakhstan’s strategic goal of increasing the share of domestically produced medicines to 50%. In July 2024, AstraZeneca and the state pharmaceutical distributor SK-Pharmacy signed a long-term agreement on local production and technology transfer. According to Maria Shipuleva, CEO of AstraZeneca Kazakhstan, the company’s innovative medicines will be produced at the Nobel Almaty Pharmaceutical Factory. The production portfolio includes treatments for diabetes, chronic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, multiple forms of leukemia, and cancer therapies for breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.

critical raw materials

Kazakh University Joins EU’s TiBeRIUM Project in Landmark Research Partnership

D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University has been selected to participate in the TiBeRIUM (Titanium and Beryllium for European Resilience and Innovative Utilization of Minerals) project, part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program for 2021-2027, which has a total budget exceeding €90 billion. TiBeRIUM seeks to develop sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials (CRMs) and implement advanced, environmentally friendly processing technologies. The project consortium includes 25 partners from Germany, Greece, Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Norway, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The project is coordinated by Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (Germany). Kazakhstani participants include D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, Tenir Group, and the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. The project will carry out a comprehensive study of titanium and beryllium resources in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan both of which are designated as CRMs by the EU due to their strategic role in European defense, green technology, industrial sustainability, and technological sovereignty. Kazakhstan is not participating solely as a raw material supplier but as a full partner in scientific research, technology development, and environmentally efficient processing. The initiative represents a shift from an "extraction-export" model to one focused on "science, technology, and added value." Participation in TiBeRIUM offers Kazakhstan access to cutting-edge international technologies, enhances applied science and engineering capacities, supports the training of a new generation of researchers and engineers, and strengthens the country’s role in global critical mineral supply chains. The project aligns with the goals of the European Critical Raw Materials Act, which seeks to reinforce the EU’s capacity and resilience in securing strategic mineral supply. The act emphasizes the importance of building mutually beneficial partnerships with third countries to diversify and stabilize critical raw material imports.

Science

Astana Student’s Horse Milk Video Makes Finals of “Breakthrough” Science Contest

Another Kazakh scientist received an accolade this month, after 17-year-old Tomiris Abylkairova from Astana was voted into the final 16 of the prestigious international Breakthrough Junior Challenge. The Breakthrough contest, an initiative of the Breakthrough Challenge Foundation in the United States, is a global science competition for young people aged 13-18. Held for the last 11 years, students are invited to create videos of up to two minutes in length that explain a particular concept or theory in the area of life sciences, physics or mathematics. Abylkairova’s video has a Kazakh flavor, quite literally, as she uses her two minutes to discuss how fermented foods such as kymyz (horse’s milk) influence gene regulation. Her animated video was among the top 16 in a public vote, sending her to the finals after receiving a high number of “likes” on the event website. Collectively, the 30 submitted videos were viewed more than 300,000 times. Abylkairova, a student at Haileybury Astana School who also competes in national fencing championships, commented: “Representing Kazakhstan internationally is both an honor and a responsibility. For me it’s a chance to contribute to my country’s intellectual, scientific, and cultural legacy while engaging in meaningful global dialogue and research.” She added: “I’m proud to help demonstrate that young people from Kazakhstan can make impactful, long-term contributions to the global scientific community". Isabella Leonel Lelles, also 17, from Brazil, was the overall top scorer in the popular vote, with more than 66,000 likes for her video on the protein folding problem. The videos of the 16 finalists will now be reviewed by a Selection Committee of esteemed figures in American science. It has not yet been announce when the committee will select the overall winner. The winning entry will receive $400,000, with the victorious student being awarded $250,000 in educational prizes. Past Breakthrough Junior Challenge winners have come from Canada, India, Mauritius, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States. Alumni have gone on to attend institutions including MIT, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. All videos, including Abylkairova's, can be viewed on the Breakthrough Junior Challenge’s website.

Science

Almaty Scientists Develop Innovative Method to Extract Valuable Materials from Agricultural Waste

Researchers at Satbayev University in Almaty have unveiled an innovative technology that extracts high-value materials from sugar beet pulp, the primary byproduct of sugar production, accounting for up to 80% of all biomass. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Sana Kabdrakhmanova, postdoctoral researcher Faisal Kholiya and PhD student Meruert Imanbek employed advanced hydrothermal synthesis techniques to derive high-quality pectin suitable for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries, cellulose with a yield of approximately 35%, and photoluminescent carbon quantum dots ranging from 8 to 14 nanometres, all from sugar beet waste. The extracted materials have diverse applications, including product shelf-life extension technologies, drug delivery systems, modern diagnostic medicine, and various nanotechnology solutions. “Our project is a striking example of the transformation of agricultural waste into high-quality, premium materials,” said Kabdrakhmanova, who leads the project. The research was conducted at the International R&D Center for Advanced Functional Materials and Composites, part of the Department of Chemical Processes and Industrial Ecology at the Omirkhan Baikonurov Institute of Mining and Metallurgy at Satbayev University. The findings underscore the potential of agricultural waste processing as both a sustainable and economically viable approach. Particular attention has been given to the photoluminescent carbon quantum dots produced through the project. These nanoscale particles are used in medical diagnostics, biological sensors for cellular research, LED components in electronics, and nanodevices in photonics. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh scientists are actively pursuing other innovative recycling technologies. One such project, led by the Kazakh Road Research Institute, involves developing methods to restore worn asphalt for reuse in road repair and construction.