Kazakhstan has recently signed a new law that aims to advance its national scientific system and technological policy. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev introduced amendments and additions to several legislative acts in the country on July 1, as reported by Akorda. The law focuses on strategic, professional, and social issues within scientific activity by closing legal gaps, creating conditions for training scientific personnel, implementing guarantees for the social protection of scientists, and introducing corporate governance.
The legislation defines entities involved in scientific activities and establishes the legal status of the National Academy of Sciences. It also details the functions of the Science Fund and sets out mechanisms for financing scientific activities. The scientific and technological policy will focus on raising the internal level of scientific and innovative work, reducing the innovation gap with global technological leaders, and assimilating new external information for commercial use by Kazakh companies based on the experience of developed countries.
To motivate scientists, the law includes provisions such as purchasing housing or improving living conditions under a joint program by the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Otbasy Bank, following President Tokayev’s instructions. The law is expected to contribute to the development of science and technology policy in Kazakhstan, ensuring competitiveness through effective application of scientific achievements and enhancing intersectoral coordination of scientific, technical, and innovation activities.
