Universities of Kazakhstan and China to Cooperate on Microsatellite Launch

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the Northwest Polytechnic University of China have agreed to conduct joint scientific research using microsatellites. According to the press service of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the agreement was reached during  talks between the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Xi Jinping, during the latter's official visit to Kazakhstan. The initiative, the first of its kind to be implemented by Kazakh universities,  opens up new opportunities for space research, training qualified specialists, and developing joint satellites, as well as enabling remote sensing studies of the Earth via a microsatellite. Integral to the project, is an aim to develop equipment for gravimetric measurements, including a specialized ground station and a transmitter on the satellite, designed to detect density inhomogeneities in the Earth's crust and mantle. The employment of such, will help solve fundamental problems in the study of geodynamic processes at great depths. The North-West Polytechnic University of China is a leader in launching objects into space whilst Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the only Kazakh university with experience in launching nanosatellites into orbit , has already launched its own Al-Farabi-1 and Al-Farabi-2 nanosatellites.

International Development Association Allocates $25 million to Kyrgyz Universities.

The International Development Association (IDA) has announced it will  provide Kyrgyzstan with a $25 million interest-free loan over 50 years, with a ten-year grace period. The loan includes an allocation of $19.7 million to be divided between  five of the country's universities. The Academy of Medicine will receive $4 million, $1.3 million of which will be invested in laboratories for biochemical research, genetics, and molecular biology; $900,000 on equipment for pathomorphological research, and $800,000 on equipment for a laboratory for pharmaceutical bioequivalence studies. The remaining $1 million will be spent on laboratories, IT equipment, and software for new and expanded educational programs. Kyrgyz State Technical University will be allocated $3.2 million,  $2.2 million of which will be used for equipment and software for three laboratories, IT equipment, and software. The Kyrgyz National University (KNU) will also receive $3.2 million with $1.7 million allocated for scientific and IT equipment and software for teaching laboratories. The remaining $1.5 million will be spent on laboratories, IT equipment, and software for educational programs. Osh State University (OSU) will receive $2.8 million, with $300,000 reserved for the purchase of an ultrasound machine for breast examination, $1.5 million for an MRI machine, and $1 million for laboratory and IT equipment and software programs. The University of Agriculture has been allocated  $3.75 million, with $800,000 to be used to purchase equipment for an infectious animal disease diagnostic laboratory, $1.2 million for molecular genetic equipment, $550,000 for equipment for a histology and immunohistochemistry laboratory, $400,000 for equipment for the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Food Safety, and $800,000 for laboratory and IT equipment and software. The national budget will cover $5.3 million of the loan funds whilst the universities will pay off the remaining amount through revenue provided by laboratory services.