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ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set goals for scientific and technological progress in Kazakhstan at a meeting of the State Council for Science and Technology on April 12. This was reported by Acorda News Agency. The event was in commemoration of Science and Labor Day.
Photo courtesy of Acorda
Mr. Tokayev welcomed the participants and drew attention to the current situation in the country.
“Severe flooding, not experienced in more than 80 years, has caused serious damage in several areas of the country. Many settlements are flooded. In general, the situation is very difficult,” he said. He stressed that global climate change is leading to an increase in the number of natural disasters around the world.
From 1980 to 1985, nearly 1,700 disasters were recorded worldwide, and from 2010 to 2015, the number rose to more than 3,700. Almost half of them were related to water. According to Tokayev, this poses a serious threat to all humanity. The world faces the extremely urgent task of preventing such emergencies and ensuring the safety of its citizens. Science must be one of his tools to realize this task.
“During this flood, we were particularly acutely aware of the lack of qualified experts and scientists in the country. I have repeatedly emphasized the importance of domestic scientific development. “It is clear that this cannot be achieved in a year. This will require many years of long and hard work,” the President stressed.
Mr. Tokayev stressed that it is extremely important to rebuild the country’s scientific potential. Today, countries that prioritize scientific progress occupy leading positions in the world, and Kazakhstan needs to be one of them.
“Last year, it was decided to allocate 625 billion tenge (US$1.4 billion) for the development of science over three years. Going forward, the state will continue to increase the science budget in stages,” he said, adding that scientists’ salaries He emphasized that the number has doubled.
According to Tokayev, it is important to adapt quickly to change and continually seek new growth opportunities to ensure the country’s continued progress.
In this connection, the President outlined five urgent problems that need to be solved in order to strengthen the country’s scientific potential and create conditions for the widespread introduction of innovations in all areas of life.
Science as a tool to predict natural disasters
The President emphasized how important it is to use the full potential of science to predict both man-made and natural disasters and to combat climate change.
“Science cannot exist apart from the pressing problems of national development. It must be of service to society and the nation, and therefore not abstract, but essentially applied and useful in everyday life. “Life itself confirms that the lack of a scientific approach has serious negative consequences,” he said.
Science should contribute to the progressive development of the economy
Despite the measures taken to industrialize the national economy, the nature of its raw materials has not yet changed significantly. Governments face the challenge of building new economic models with sustainable value chains at their core. According to Tokayev, the petrochemical and oilfield services sector holds a lot of promise in this area (production of plastics, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers and graphene).
“Scientific efforts must not only respond to academic needs, but also take into account national development strategic objectives and economic requirements. This requires clear research priorities based on the best international experience. “We need to decide,” he said.
Tokayev also focused on commercializing scientific developments.
“Considering the need to decarbonize the economy of Kazakhstan, domestic science faces serious challenges. Many developed countries are implementing projects on renewable energy sources, and the transition to carbon-free development and We already have the appropriate technological potential for the creation of new economic clusters. To keep up with global trends in this field, we need to develop our own scientific capabilities that take into account our characteristics. We need development,” the president said.
Accelerating development of artificial intelligence
According to some estimates, artificial intelligence will account for 7% of global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, and by 2027, the global artificial intelligence market will be capitalized at well over $400 billion. It has been.
“Artificial intelligence is being effectively used in Kazakhstan in security, healthcare, banking services, logistics and education. …At the same time, comprehensive government support is needed for the successful development of the industry. We need to build an ecosystem that provides shared access to data and technology infrastructure,” Tokayev said.
It is important to take a creative approach to developing artificial intelligence. Therefore, more emphasis in this area is needed on developing ethical guidelines, protecting data, and preventing cyber-attacks.
University science and scientific infrastructure development
Effective reforms in science and secondary education in recent years have led to an exodus of talent from the higher education system. According to Tokayev, qualified teachers with degrees have begun to move to schools and scientific organizations with higher salaries.
“Today, more than 40% of university professors and teachers are professionals with degrees. These trends have an impact not only on master’s and doctoral students, but also on the quality of undergraduate training. The president pointed out that he would not be able to do so, and instructed relevant ministries and agencies to take concrete measures.
Strengthening the potential of scientific talent
Mr. Tokayev outlined the need to strengthen the training of specialists in priority areas of the economy and provide comprehensive support to young scientists.
“It is important that we provide our scientists with the opportunity to undertake internships abroad under postdoctoral programs. At the same time, it is important that we ensure adequate scholarships so that they can focus on their research,” the President said. Stated.
Mr. Tokayev pointed out that the proportion of doctoral students among the total number of students at Kazakh universities remains low, and called on relevant institutions to address this issue in detail and take appropriate measures.
The President emphasized that the development of science is a strategic priority for Kazakhstan. It is important to create an environment where talented and capable young people can engage in science. Creativity, innovation, knowledge and dedication to science are the main qualities needed for a truly developed country.
“Schools must encourage students’ interest in science. We must devote all our efforts to promoting knowledge and science,” Tokayev said.
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