On August 25, the 80th meeting of the Governing Board of the International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC) was held in Tokyo. The delegation of Kazakhstan was led by Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek.

Over the past ten years, more than 50 ISTC projects have been implemented in Kazakhstan, engaging over 1,500 scientists and experts, with total funding exceeding 100 million US dollars. The ISTC portfolio includes more than 4,500 projects across 100 countries, involving over 76,000 scientists.

During the meeting, participants discussed the development and renewal of ISTC activities. Minister Sayasat Nurbek presented Kazakhstan’s science development strategy through the lens of international cooperation, emphasizing the importance of partnerships with leading foreign universities, the establishment of their branches, the creation of joint research centres, and the training of specialists.

“Kazakhstan positions itself as a platform for new scientific partnerships and centres of competence. Our strategy is aimed at establishing joint research schools with leading universities of the world, opening their branches in the country, and preparing a new generation of scientists. This approach makes it possible to integrate national science into the international research landscape and strengthen its role in global cooperation,” the Minister noted.

It was also announced that in October of this year, an international conference on biosafety and biosecurity, organized by the ISTC, will take place in Almaty. The conference will serve as a key platform for discussing pressing challenges in the field of biological security, sharing international expertise, and building new partnerships.