Kazakhstan is taking steps to improve its scientific system with a new law signed by President Kasim-Jomart Tokayev. The legislation aims to specify the rights and roles of those involved in scientific activities and establish the legal status of the National Academy of Sciences. Additionally, it clarifies the functions of the Fund for Science and establishes mechanisms for financing scientific activities.
The law focuses on strategic, professional, and social issues within scientific activity by closing legal gaps, creating conditions for training scientific staff, implementing guarantees for social protection of scientists, and introducing corporate governance. The country’s 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.
To motivate scientists, the law includes provisions such as buying apartments or improving living conditions under a joint program between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Otbasi Bank. It is expected that this law will contribute to the development of science and the implementation of technological policy, ensuring the competitiveness of Kazakhstan through effective application of scientific achievements and intersectoral coordination of scientific, technical, and innovation activities.