Science and Industry: R&D Reboot
in the mining and metallurgical complex
On November 28, 2024, Astana hosted the forum "Science and Industry: Reloading R&D in the mining and metallurgical complex".
The event brought together representatives of science, industry and government agencies to discuss strategies to improve the efficiency of research and development (R&D) and improve interaction between the scientific community and enterprises of the mining and metallurgical complex.
In his welcoming speech to the Forum participants, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek noted the importance of long-term cooperation between science and industry.
"The main task of the ongoing Hackathons is to raise production to a new technological level and create a so-called value chain. Hackathons are held in order to develop new mechanisms for the formation of priority areas for the development of scientific and technical activities, to address the demands and needs of the real economy, to improve cooperation between science and business, as well as to promote commercialization projects for the production of new export-oriented products," the minister said.
In her speech, Gulnara Bizhanova, Deputy Chairman of the Board of NCE "Atameken", noted the need for active involvement of business in the process of scientific research, focusing on successful examples of cooperation between science and enterprises that allowed solving applied problems of industry.
"Science and production are two inseparable links that must work in a single bundle. Today's forum is a step towards building a new level of interaction. I am sure that through joint efforts we will be able to achieve significant results," G.Bizhanova noted.
Saken Shayakhmetov, Director of Sustainable Development at Kazakhmys Corporation LLP, shared the company's experience in implementing innovative projects, noting the importance of introducing new approaches to R&D to improve production efficiency.
"Over the past five years alone, the Corporation has allocated more than 25 billion tenge for R&D within the framework of license and contract terms, while not taking into account the additional contribution of the company to the implementation of large scientific and technological projects. It should also be noted that close ties have been established with Kazakhstani and foreign research organizations. In addition, this year the company initiated and successfully held the first scientific and technological hackathon in Kazakhstan, where 4 key projects were selected based on the results of the forum, providing for the solution of three high-tech production issues related to mining technologies, ecology, enrichment and industrial digitalization," Saken Shayakhmetov said.
General Director of ERG in Kazakhstan Serik Shakhazhanov spoke about the work of the research and engineering center - the R&D Center of ERG, created for the development of innovative infrastructure. Currently, the Center's portfolio includes 48 projects with a potential economic effect of over 150 billion tenge.
The center's approach assumes strict adherence to the principle of efficiency: each project undergoes in-depth analysis, laboratory tests and testing on semi-industrial installations. Only after confirming the effectiveness, the technology is transferred for implementation in production, which allows minimizing risks and maximizing the use of innovative potential.
Strategic sessions and round tables were held within the framework of the forum, where participants discussed new mechanisms of interaction between science and business aimed at solving urgent problems and developing innovations in the mining and metallurgical complex of Kazakhstan.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/sci/press/news/details/892494