Skolkovo will help Kazakhstan to develop science.
Current issues of financing scientific developments, as well as ways to solve them, have become the central topic at the Eurasian Forum on the Commercialization of Science. The forum was held in Almaty and was attended by representatives from the scientific and business communities. According to the participants of the academic organizations who met on October 10, 44 percent of Kazakh scientists do not have access to advanced equipment necessary for conducting research. This is mainly due to a lack of funding for projects, which has led to an increase in the need for collaboration between science and business. To address this issue, it is recommended to increase synergies between these two sectors, which will allow for both the attraction of funds for new developments and the commercialization of existing technologies.
"We are raising the issue of creating high-tech factories in Kazakhstan. We have everything: land, resources, and the entire periodic table. In principle, Kazakhstan can now aim to create new export value chains and new high-tech industries that will bring economic benefits and improve the competitiveness of our country." Sanat Zholdykhon, Chairman of the Board of the National Agency for Innovative Development, said in an interview with Almaty TV.
Forum participants noted that there was significant potential for such growth in CIS countries, as they had rich natural resources, a young and educated population, and an infrastructure to support innovation. In Kazakhstan, measures to stimulate innovation were implemented through various programs, including assistance from akimats (local governments), universities, and research institutions. At the same time, international organizations also offered their support. This was confirmed by Alexander Okunev, deputy vice president for regional development and interaction with the CIS at Skolkovo.
"You need to apply for the status of a project participant. The application covers two areas: an innovative component and a commercial component. If these coincide, the company can become a participant in the Skolkovo project. However, if there is good commercialization but no science or innovation, this is not our story. We don't enter into a share in a company, nor do we claim its property," he noted.