During the state visit to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kazakhstani side concluded a major package of agreements in Brussels on the development of artificial intelligence, science, digital infrastructure, and space technologies. The agreements cover cooperation with leading European universities, participation in the Horizon Europe programme, the establishment of the ALEM.AI platform, and the implementation of a satellite project for water resource management in the Zhambyl region.
Agreements with Ghent University and KU Leuven
The signing of agreements with two of Europe's leading scientific and educational centres was the key outcome of the visit. The documents provide for joint research, the creation of international scientific teams, the expansion of academic mobility, and the implementation of technological projects within the framework of cooperation with the European Union.
Ghent University's collaboration focuses on research in mathematical modelling, scientific computing, and digital twins. The areas of partnership with KU Leuven are broader:
- sustainable materials and critical metals
- engineering education and professional training
- technology commercialisation
- implementation of scientific developments in industry
Both agreements give Kazakhstani scientists access to international research consortia and modern laboratories, and contribute to the country's integration into the European Research Area.
What does Kazakhstan gain from participation in Horizon Europe?
Horizon Europe is the world's largest programme for financing scientific research and innovation, implemented by the European Union. The new agreements create a practical foundation for the following steps:
- Preparation of joint grant applications under the Horizon Europe programme.
- Launch of research programmes involving international consortia.
- Establishment of joint international laboratories.
- Implementation of scientific developments in real sectors of the economy.
- Integration of Kazakhstani scientists into the European Research Area.
The International Science and Technology Centre (ISTC), which has considerable experience in supporting scientific and technological projects, is also planned to be involved in implementing joint initiatives.
The ALEM.AI platform: the centre of Kazakhstan's scientific ecosystem
The ALEM.AI platform will serve as the central hub for advancing the artificial intelligence agenda in Kazakhstan. It will bring together the capabilities of AI, scientific organisations, universities, research centres, start-ups, and industrial partners. ALEM.AI is expected to become a point of entry for international partners into Kazakhstan's AI for Science and Innovation ecosystem, as well as a tool for launching joint projects under the Horizon Europe programme.
The AI for Science and Innovation initiative involves the use of artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific research: modelling complex processes, developing new materials, processing large datasets, and creating technological products for industry.
How will satellite technologies help manage Kazakhstan's water resources?
A separate outcome of the visit was the signing of a joint activity agreement between JSC “National Company and the Luxembourg-based company Hydrosat S.à.r.l.”, which specialises in satellite analytics for water resource management and agriculture. The document provides for the implementation of the pilot project “Water Resource Management in Kazakhstan Using Copernicus and Hydrosat”. The project combines Hydrosat's satellite technologies with the infrastructure capabilities of the Kazakhstani side: evapotranspiration calculations, soil moisture monitoring, and crop condition assessment.
The Zhambyl region has been selected as the pilot area, where field studies will be conducted and specialised equipment will be installed. The agreement provides for the possibility of scaling the project to other Central Asian countries.
The agreements signed in Brussels lay the groundwork for Kazakhstan's systematic integration into the global research landscape. Participation in Horizon Europe, the creation of the ALEM.AI platform, and the implementation of satellite projects are not isolated initiatives – they are components of a unified strategy. For Kazakhstani scientists, the agreements open up real opportunities: grants, joint laboratories, publications in international journals, and access to Europe's leading research platforms.
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