Kazakhstan Unveils Long-Term Strategy for Establishing “Science Cities”

Kazakhstan’s government has presented a comprehensive Concept for the creation and development of “science cities” for the period 2025–2035. The document was introduced during a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.

The new Concept outlines key directions for forming specialized innovation hubs across the country. These science cities are envisioned to include technoparks, engineering and design centers, robotics hubs, laboratories, and R&D facilities. According to officials, the initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between research institutions and private industry.

The government plans to conduct a detailed assessment of regional scientific, technological, and socio-economic capacities to identify areas that could be granted official science-city status. Their development and management will be overseen by a dedicated governing company.

Funding for the project is expected to come from private-sector investments, public-private partnership mechanisms, and commercial banks. The resources will be directed toward establishing infrastructure, university campuses, laboratories, and innovation centers. Authorities are also considering support from international financial institutions.

To bolster collaboration between education, science, and business, the Concept proposes holding innovation sessions with industry participation, expanding engineering and robotics centers, and developing technology parks and technology-transfer platforms.

Following the presentation, Deputy Prime Minister Zhumangarin instructed the Ministry of Science and Higher Education to refine all target indicators outlined in the Concept and resubmit them for further government review.