Kazakhstan is a country with a rich history and long-standing scientific traditions, a country of great opportunities that strives to become one of the most competitive economies in the world.
The Republic of Kazakhstan is a unitary state with a presidential form of government.
The Republic of Kazakhstan possesses powerful scientific and technical potential, which was created through the integration of the scientific heritage of past researchers and domestic scientific achievements in the era of independence.
The history of science in Kazakhstan spans several centuries and traces its roots deep into antiquity. Even in ancient times, the nomadic peoples inhabiting the vast steppes of our land developed knowledge in the fields of animal husbandry, metallurgy, and astronomy. They created sophisticated systems of timekeeping and studied the movement of stars, demonstrating the high intellectual activity of our ancestors. However, the formation of organized scientific activity in Kazakhstan began later, in the early twentieth century, with the establishment of such institutions as the Kazakh Research Veterinary Institute (1905) and the Krasnovodopad Seed-Breeding Station (1909). In the mid-1920s, the Academic Center of the People’s Commissariat of Education of the Kazakh ASSR was established. In 1925, the first Kazakh Sanitary-Bacteriological Institute was opened in the city of Alma-Ata. The history of the organization of the republican Academy dates back to March 8, 1932, when the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, having considered the proposal of the Commission on Bases and Branches, adopted a resolution establishing the Kazakhstan Base of the USSR Academy of Sciences, consisting of two sectors: zoological and botanical. In November 1938, the Base was transformed into the Kazakh Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, the largest scientific institution in the republic at that time, employing around 100 researchers, including 14 Candidates of Sciences and three Doctors of Sciences. In 1938, the Kazakhstan Base was reorganized into the Kazakh Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences (KazFAS USSR). Before the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, it employed 100 researchers, including 3 Doctors of Sciences and 14 Candidates of Sciences. By the beginning of the 1940s, the republic already had 12 higher educational institutions, 11 research and design-technological organizations, 2 design institutes, 2 agricultural experimental stations, 6 factory-based research and engineering divisions, as well as a botanical garden and zoological park in Alma-Ata. On May 31, 1946, the Resolution “On the Establishment of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR” was adopted. On June 1, 1946, the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR approved the first composition of the Academy from among the candidates nominated by research institutions and higher educational establishments of the Kazakh SSR, including 76 Doctors of Sciences and distinguished scholars. During the 1950s–1980s, Kazakhstan’s economic development outpaced the average growth rates across the Soviet Union. This process was accompanied by intensive scientific and technological progress. During these years, a number of new research and design organizations were established in the republic, including six institutes within the Academy of Sciences. By the early 1980s, Kazakhstan had 140 scientific institutions employing 21,100 people. Scientific resources were concentrated within the Academy of Sciences, which included 31 scientific institutions, among them 24 research institutes. Scholars of the Academy conducted research in virtually all fields of the economy and science. With the attainment of Independence, the republic began developing new approaches to scientific advancement in accordance with the objectives of establishing Kazakhstan as a sovereign state. Issues related to the formation of an independent scientific and technological policy and a national science management system formed the basis of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Science and State Scientific-Technical Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” adopted in January 1992. On March 11, 1996, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Ministry of Science and New Technologies of the Republic of Kazakhstan were merged into a central executive body within the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan — the Ministry of Science and the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Presidential Decree stipulated that the Ministry of Science and the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan would serve as the unified state governing body in the field of science and technology, responsible for implementing state scientific and technological policy. In 2003, in accordance with a Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Academy of Sciences was granted the status of the Republican Public Association “National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan.” In 2022, the National Academy of Sciences regained its state status. This was announced by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during his speech on June 1, 2022, at the юбилейная session of the National Academy of Sciences dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the organization: “The Academy must become a center of scientific thought and an authoritative institution carrying out expert activities. It is extremely important for us to enhance its role. In this regard, the Academy will be granted state status…” Accordingly, by Resolution No. 1003 of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 14, 2022, the Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company “National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan” was established with one hundred percent state participation in its authorized capital. On March 27, 2023, by Decree No. 152 of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Certain Issues of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” the Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company “National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan” was renamed the Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company “National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.” By Resolution No. 281 of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated April 11, 2023, the Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company “National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan” was officially renamed the Non-Profit Joint-Stock Company “National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”
Kazakhstan’s scientific priorities are diverse and correspond to its unique needs and goals. Over the past few decades, many universities, research organizations, and institutes have been established in the country, actively working in various fields of science, including geology, metallurgy, chemistry, and others. Thus, the country’s experience in space exploration, including the well-known Baikonur Cosmodrome as a coordination center, positions it as one of the key players in the global aerospace industry. Energy and natural resources are also important areas of activity due to the rich reserves of oil, gas, and minerals in Kazakhstan. Research and development in renewable energy technologies, resource management, and energy efficiency contribute to both economic development and environmental sustainability. Agriculture and food security are of paramount importance, stimulating research initiatives aimed at increasing yields, improving agricultural practices, and addressing water scarcity and climate change. The study of environmental sciences is stimulated by the diverse ecosystems of Kazakhstan, including research on biodiversity, the impact of climate change, and the formation of a sustainable environmental policy. In addition, the country is striving to develop its information technology sector, focusing on digital innovation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analysis. The pursuit of biomedical sciences, biotechnologies, biosafety, and health development is another important priority aimed at improving medical services, solving public health problems, and promoting progress in biomedical research. Kazakhstan’s historic involvement in nuclear technology has stimulated research in nuclear science and technology, especially in areas such as safety, waste management, and the study of nuclear energy as a sustainable energy source. Kazakhstan also actively cooperates with other countries and international organizations in the field of scientific research. The international program ‘Bolashak’ and the scientific program ‘Zhas Galym’ provide a unique opportunity for citizens of Kazakhstan to study and undergo an internship at the best universities in the world. They make it possible to train highly qualified specialists and strengthen the country’s human capital. The programs also promote the exchange of knowledge and experience and contribute to the development of Kazakhstan and its integration into the world scientific community. Taking into account the priority of the development of science, the Head of State signed a Decree ‘On the establishment of the National Council for Science and Technology under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.’ The Council’s activities are aimed at improving the management of the national scientific system and developing recommendations for determining priorities for the further development of state policy in the field of science and scientific and technical activities of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Recently, the Republic of Kazakhstan has carried out large-scale transformations in the management system of the scientific and technical sphere. Thus, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan was established, responsible for the development of science in the country. The status of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan has been elevated by consolidating it under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Special attention has been paid to creating a favorable environment for scientific research, innovation, and the development of the scientific community. Reforming science in Kazakhstan is the foundation for the development of the country in all areas. Kazakhstan continues to move forward in science and technology, striving to make the world a better and more innovative place. The country is proud of its achievements and strives for further progress in science and technology to continue contributing to country, regional, and global development.
