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ACTIVITIES OF RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF NATURAL AND TECHNICAL SCIENCES
ACTIVITIES OF RESEARCH INSTITUTE
OF NATURAL AND TECHNICAL SCIENCES
In the Message to the people of Kazakhstan on 1 September 2022, K-Zh.K. Tokayev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted the high role of science in solving applied problems at the national level, the need to provide agriculture with advanced technological solutions, to conduct wider research on all types of water resources, which are issues of national security. The priorities for the development of science and education were specified in the speech of the Head of the State at a meeting with scientists at the anniversary session of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2022 in Almaty.
In the concept of development of science of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2026, the transformation of M. Auezov SKU into a research university is noted. The research status of the university determines its role in the formation of an innovative ecosystem and the development of the university as an innovative hub, which is an important component of the national technological initiative. In this regard, the priorities of our university are the reorientation of science towards innovative activities of the entrepreneurial type, the introduction of breakthrough innovations into the economic activity of the region and the formation of new principles for the functioning of university science and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The activities of Research Institute of Natural and Technical Sciences are based on these principles, the main task of which is to coordinate the scientific directions of the university and manage the scientific activities of scientists in the field of natural and technical sciences. The institute was opened within the university structure in 2020 based on 7 research laboratories and 1 research center. Currently, it includes 17 research laboratories and 1 research center, which participate in the implementation of promising innovative projects.
The research laboratories of our institute carry out the tasks set by the Head of the State to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan to carry out research in current areas of science and provide the domestic economy and business with innovations for creation of modern technologies and industries, including on import substitution.
The institute coordinates scientific research of university scientists and scientific schools of natural and technical direction, assists scientists in promoting their scientific works to commercialization, including with publications in the media, TV, on the website of National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken”, as well as organizing jointly with Social and Entrepreneurial Corporation “Shymkent”, Department of Agriculture and other departments of Shymkent and Turkestan region seminars and meetings with business partners, farmers, search for investors for introduction of innovative developments of university scientists into production, their commercialization.
In particular, for Social and Entrepreneurial Corporation “Shymkent”, the institute proposed several promising developments of our scientists, two of which: production of carbide (Prof. Shevko V.M.) and production of fertilizer mixtures (Prof. Zhantasov K.T.), which were included in city projects proposed for investment. In March-September 2022, the institute, together with Department of Agriculture of Shymkent city, held seminars for farmers and entrepreneurs of the region with the aim of commercializing the innovative technologies of our scientists in the field of agricultural sciences (Alibekov R., Alibayev N., Tokhanov M., Azimov A.M., Smailov B., Manabayev N., others).
International expert on finances and venture capital, Ilya Strebulaev, Professor of Stanford University, named biotechnology, technology of composite materials using nanoparticles and agriculture as the most breakthrough industries with great opportunities for investors. This is also true for Kazakhstan.
Our scientists have their own know-how for the agro-industrial region. The research laboratories of the institute make a significant contribution to the development of the agro-industrial complex, increasing the output of agricultural products, increasing crop yields based on the development of advanced innovative technologies, ensuring import substitution of agricultural products.
Scientists of the institute’s research laboratory under the program 026 at Department of Agriculture of Shymkent city in 2022 implemented a project for production of dietary supplements based on the unique plant raw material stevia without adding sugar (sweeteners) (the head of the research laboratory is Azimov A.M., PhD). The institute has launched a production line using this technology. This product is in great demand from pharmaceutical companies. At the next stage in 2023, with the financing of Department of Agriculture of Shymkent city, it is planned to cultivate stevia in the experimental field of SKU and in the fields of South region for subsequent mass production of syrups and herbal drinks for various purposes.
In 2022, M. Aitenov, Akim of Shymkent city, visited our university and got acquainted with innovative developments of research laboratories. He noted the research relevance on the natural sweetener – stevia, its cultivation, with the aim of further obtaining from it powders and syrups for various purposes, production of herbal drinks and the need to commercialize this technology for widespread implementation.
The institute scientists have also developed a technology for drying fruits to obtain environmentally friendly dried fruits (Tokhanov M., Candidate of Agricultural Sciences), which allows reducing dependence on import supplies. The innovative development aroused the practical interest of Department of Agriculture of Shymkent city and a joint project of our scientists was implemented for 29 million KZT, our laboratory received new technological equipment. Together with Department of Agriculture of Shymkent city, seminars were held for farmers and businessmen and the innovative technology for producing dried fruits was presented for widespread implementation. The same laboratory carried out experimental works in Baidibek district on the technology of presowing treatment of seeds of spring barley and hybrid varieties of watermelon with electromagnetic waves, which significantly increase their yield. Economic agreements for seed processing are concluded with peasant farms in the region. In 2023, we, together with Department of Agriculture of Shymkent city, are planning to introduce a new technology for tableting camel milk – shubat – into the agro-industrial complex.
In 2023, the institute together with Department of Agriculture of Shymkent city on a plot of 10 hectares planted seedlings of “Subkhana” apricot and “Kishmish Giant” grape. It will subsequently be converted into the university’s botanical garden.
Since 2022, to increase soil fertility, the institute scientists commercialize a project worth 300 million KZT (Zhantasov K.T.) on the technology for production of multi-vector fertilizers (new nomenclatures of fertilizer mixtures) containing macro and micro fertilizers and water-retaining substances with humates.
According to the program 026 of Department of Agriculture of Shymkent city, in 2021, the institute designed and manufactured prototypes of mounted implements for agricultural machinery for tillage, implementation in the agro-industrial complex of Shymkent city, modernization of Croatian seedling and planting mechanism.
There are innovative projects in pharmacology as well. The region is home to 124 known plants that can be used in medicine. Scientists of the research laboratory “Phytochemistry” (the head of the research laboratory is Aimenova Zh.Ye., PhD), together with researchers from Institute of Biology and Biotechnology of Plants of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, National Nature Reserves of the region and Mangystau region, are conducting research on these medicinal plants under grant-funded projects.
Scientific research and innovative design developments in these promising areas continue and expand.
In South Kazakhstan, in particular in Shymkent city, there is an acute problem of huge industrial wastes and ecology, which is being successfully solved by scientists from the research laboratory “Building materials, construction and architecture” (Prof. Sarsenbayev B.K., Aimenov Zh.T.). Several technologies were developed for organizing the production of non-fired cements based on large-scale industrial wastes, as well as for the use of carbonate-barium tailings to create slag-alkaline cementless binders. Based on the results of these scientific developments, in 2022, applications for commercialization were submitted and one project won 500 million KZT from JSC “Fund of Science”, and the second project – program-targeted financing – according to technical assignment No. 17 together with NPJSC “Satpayev University” was approved by the Higher National Technical Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The project of our scientists “Organization of production of low-clinker floured cements based on industrial wastes (slag and ash from thermal power plants)” is among the selected 4 projects out of 57 in Kazakhstan in 2022 which was presented at Forum-exhibition “Commercialization of results of scientific and scientific-technical activities” by JSC “Fund of Science” and JSC “National Agency for Development of Innovations “QazInnovations”, organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 12 April 2022. The project took 2nd place in the category “Best Scientific Project of the Republic of Kazakhstan based on the results of Onertabys Pitch” and was awarded a diploma. For this project, JSC “Fund of Science” allocated 300 million KZT for commercialization.
The institute also cooperates with Center for Scientific and Technological Initiatives of Fund “Samruk-Kazyna’, which works on innovative development and transfers knowledge.
Such technologies can improve the environment by getting rid of production wastes, harmful emissions into the atmosphere and reduce the cost of construction. Currently, a financed economic agreement is being concluded for implementation of results of scientific and scientific-technical activities with enterprises in Almaty, Kokshetau, Turkestan and Kyzyl-Orda. In addition, due to the increase in construction volumes in the region, together with scientists from Russia, it is planned to open an international accredited testing laboratory that will issue quality certificates for most building materials. All necessary equipment for testing is available in the institute’s laboratory, which will operate on a self-supporting basis.
The laboratory “Problems of Mechanical Engineering” under a three-year grant project for 65 million KZT (Kolesnikov A.S., Candidate of Technical Sciences, senior researcher) conducted research on the complex processing of tailings (wastes) of Balkhash processing plant and limestone with obtaining cement clinker.
The laboratory “Advanced Metallurgical Technologies” (Prof. Shevko V.M.) is conducting research on “Resource-saving technology for electrothermal processing of phosphorites” under a grant project of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2024 for 40 million KZT.
The research laboratory “Innovative equipment of technological processes” (Prof. Volnenko A.A.) under a grant project of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 41 million KZT (2021-2023) conducts research to create environmental equipment for gas purification – a dust collector with autonomous irrigation and temperature reduction circuits.
One of the main directions of modern scientific and technological progress is Biotechnology. Based on modern research in the field of biological and technical sciences, genetic and cellular engineering, the potential of purposefully created living systems is used to improve people’s living standards.
To coordinate and develop scientific research in this area, the institute has Biotechnology Center (headed by Prof., Doctor of Agricultural Sciences N. Alibayev), consisting of research laboratories of food biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology and industrial biotechnology, which provide good scientific results. A joint project of scientists from Biotechnology Center won a program-targeted financing grant for 250 million KZT at the competition of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2024. Leading researcher of the research laboratory “Food Biotechnology” – Mutaliyeva B.Zh., Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor, under the joint program of M. Auezov SKU, M. Utemisov WKU and Rutgers University (USA) became the owner of a grant for 9 months in 2022 in the amount of 37 813 USD on the topic “Creation of a partnership program in the field of green nanotechnology and environmental sensing”. The head of the research laboratory “Industrial Biotechnology” – Prof. Kedelbayev B.Sh. in 2022 together with foreign scientists won International fundamental grant from the Ministry of Innovative Development of Uzbekistan for 120 million KZT and a grant from the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 49 million KZT for development of technologies for the use of degraded pastures in Turkestan region. Senior researcher of the research laboratory “Food Biotechnology” – Utebayeva A. in 2022 won “Young Scientist” grant for 45 million KZT.
The University Development Strategy provides for the commissioning of research laboratories of Biotechnology Center, equipped with high-tech equipment, which will allow almost all unique scientific research of our scientists, doctoral students and master students to be carried out on their basis. This will allow to obtain unique results that will allow them to be published in leading foreign scientific editions, indexed in the international databases Scopus and WoS for a wide range of scientists around the world.
The main conditions for development of innovations are a high level of effectiveness of fundamental and applied researches, which have prospects for co-financing from business. Scientists of Biotechnology Center in 2023 (Head – Prof. Alibayev N.) submitted a project on protein feed worth 49 million tenge to the competition, an application was prepared for the competition of JSC “Fund of Science” for 2023 for commercialization of a joint project with scientists from South-Western Research Institute of Plant Growing and Animal Breeding of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the amount of 210 million KZT.
In the field of Biotechnology, the university also has a dissertation council, where 11 doctoral students defended their dissertations and another 24 are studying.
To increase the efficiency of scientific research, at the university, State Investment Project was developed “Creation of a research center for collective use as part of transformation of M. Auezov SKU into a research university”, where 5 modern research laboratories for collective use will function (according to the principle of Regional testing laboratory of engineering profile).
The research university should be integrated, actively developing strategic partnerships with enterprises and organizations of the external environment (domestic and foreign universities and research institutes, the real economy, the financial sector, civil society institutions, etc.).
To combine scientific knowledge and strengthen scientific and educational interaction between research institutes and universities, the institute’s research laboratories carry out joint scientific research with many foreign universities and research institutes, mainly with leading technical universities in Russia, such as Belgorod State Technological University, St. Petersburg Technological University, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, Kazan Federal University, Ivanovo State Chemical Technology University, Irkutsk National Research University, Kazan National Research Technological University, Grozny State Petroleum Technical University and many others. The institute works closely with scientists from universities in the UK, Germany, Japan, India, Malaysia, Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, etc. In particular, our scientists Kedelbayev B., Issa A., Mutaliyeva B., Azimov A.M., Alibekov R.S., Aimenov Zh.T. carry out joint research with scientists from Uzbekistan, Georgia, the USA, Indonesia, Russia, etc.
The institute’s research laboratories also have close ties and cooperate with 10 leading universities, 18 research institutes, 2 scientific centers, 12 joint-stock companies and limited liability partnerships of Kazakhstan, with 44 foreign universities and 10 research institutes.
In particular, the research laboratory “High-temperature synthesis of composite materials” (Prof. Protopopov A.V.), under a collaboration program together with National Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials, prepared a project on the topic “Technology for producing composite materials with high absorption capacity for ionizing radiation” and won a grant for 2021-2023. 1 application for a useful model and 1 application for an invention were jointly filed. Methods for producing multilayer radiation protection composites were developed, their prototypes were manufactured. Together with National Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials, an application for invention “Method of producing multilayer composite material for radiation protection” was submitted to National Center for State Scientific and Technical Expertise.
An economic agreement for provision of research services was completed with National Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022. “Method for producing bimetallic armor plates from steel 110G13 with a wear-resistant working layer” was developed, an application for an invention was filed.
In 2022, the research laboratory “High-temperature synthesis of composite materials” together with National Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials completed an economic agreement (for 2.96 million KZT) for development of a technology for separating vanadium from a ferrophosphorus alloy containing vanadium and completed an economic agreement for the project “Technology for producing composite materials with high absorption capacity for ionizing radiation” (for the amount of 4.7 million KZT).
About scientific directions and schools. The institute’s leading scientific schools determine the main scientific directions, the coordinators of which lead the corresponding scientific seminars. For further development of scientific directions, it is necessary to carry out targeted training of scientific personnel, incl. through postdoctoral studies, sending to Master, PhD programs, postgraduate studies, scientific internships to leading technical universities of the Russian Federation and other CIS countries, on the basis of cooperation agreements with them, open joint scientific laboratories with them, participate in competitions of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan with joint scientific projects with involvement of leading foreign scientists.
In the SWOT analysis of the scientific activities of SKU for 2022, one of its threats is the “aging” of scientists from scientific schools. Therefore, in order to increase the influx of young personnel up to 35-40 years old and retain promising scientists, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan is introducing new advanced training programs for young scientists for research “Zhas Galym” and “Gylymi Talimger/Scientific Mentor”.
In order to “rejuvenate” the composition of the scientific staff of the institute’s laboratories, last year 5 young scientists who graduated our PhD programs were accepted and this work continues. One of them is the head of the laboratory – Azimov A.M. won the grant “Best University Teacher of the Republic of Kazakhstan – 2021”, Azimov A.M., Smailov B., Aimenova Zh.Ye. – in 2022 grant “Zhas Galym”, Utebayeva A. – grant “Young Scientist”.
Young scientists – heads of research laboratories, PhD doctors Azimov A.M., Smailov B., Aimenova Zh.Ye., Issa A., and Abzhalov R. submitted projects to the competitions of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Young Scientist” and “Zhas Galym” (postdoctoral studies) for 2022, submitted joint projects with other universities and research institutes of the Republic of Kazakhstan for grant funding from the Committee of Science. Joint project of Aimenova Zh.Ye. with scientists from Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan won a grant of 79 million KZT, joint project for processing of oil sludge by Smailov B.M., Abzhalov R., Issa A. won a grant under the program-targeted financing for 300 million KZT.
The institute holds scientific seminars for young scientists, where, together with heads of scientific schools, the most relevant scientific directions are discussed in order to determine the topics of scientific research for the future in order to prepare projects for competitions of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Fund of Science, etc. As a result of this work on preparation of scientific personnel, last year, the first doctoral students of our young scientists B. Mutaliyeva, A. Azimov, U. Nazarbek, successfully defended their dissertations at our dissertation councils.
Integration of science and education. The essence of a classical research university is the integration of the educational process and fundamental scientific research. This requires teachers with fundamental knowledge. World experience shows that leading countries have managed to integrate science and education quite effectively. This practice is also relevant for our university. Basic science is carried out in research laboratories, where associate professors and professors of chairs work part-time and participate in research projects, laboratory researchers participate in the educational process. Currently, 40% of the institute’s research staff are involved in the educational process and are engaged in teaching activities. In the future, the role of research laboratories will increase in the joint training of scientific personnel – doctoral and master students, as well as specialists – bachelors, incl. technical direction, for this purpose, scientists from the institute’s research laboratories are more widely involved in the supervision of scientific work and research of doctoral and master’s students, the work of dissertation councils (currently 4 researchers are members of 3 dissertation councils). All this will expand the use of scientific research results in educational environment for improving study programs, promoting the development of research potential and increasing the competitiveness of specialists. Our task is to train in-demand specialists with an entrepreneurial culture who will generate innovations based on a technically equipped educational ecosystem.
In order to integrate science and education, strengthen scientific ties between chairs and research laboratories, improve the quality of training for master and doctoral students performing dissertation works at research laboratories, their study programs include disciplines in the profile of the relevant research laboratories of the university. This contributes to the development of scientific schools and targeted training of scientific personnel for laboratories.
The research university must be entrepreneurial, capable of ensuring its financial sustainability in the face of increasing competition between universities. In 2022, the research laboratories submitted 51 projects to competitions, of which 15 were for grant funding, 8 were for commercialization, and 7 were for program-targeted financing. As of 1 December 2022: 3 projects won program-targeted financing (873 million KZT), 3 project won commercialization (900 million KZT), 6 projects won grants (335.7 million KZT), 3 projects won “Zhas Galym” (56 million KZT), 1 project won “Young Scientist” (44.9 million KZT). In total, 18 projects worth 2 billion 117 million KZT are being implemented.
Since the establishment of the institute, funding for scientific projects of laboratories has increased: in 2020 – grant projects worth 65 105 million KZT, economic agreement research works worth 4 million KZT were carried out, in 2021 – worth 208.5 million KZT and 6.16 million KZT, respectively, in November 2022. – worth 817.6 million KZT + 492.2 million KZT and 16.7 million KZT. The volume of research funding for 1 year increased by 609 million KZT. In equivalent per 1 researcher, the specific volume of research funding in 2021 was 4.6 million KZT, in 2022 – 18.3 million KZT. Using these funds, the laboratories purchased various scientific equipment.
The institute actively participates not only in state-funded grant projects, but also in initiative economic agreement research works and commercialization of results of scientific and scientific-technical activities.
Currently, 3 projects have won the program-targeted financing competition of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan: 1) On ensuring the quality of drinking water – in the amount of 323 million KZT (Prof. M.I. Satayev, PhD Azimov A.M.); 2) On processing of agricultural raw materials – in the amount of 250 million KZT (Alibekov R.); 3) On processing of oil sludge – in the amount of 300 million KZT (Smailov B.). 2 projects have won the competitions of JSC “Fund of Science” for commercialization: 1) On organizing the technology for production of low-clinker cements based on various industrial wastes – in the amount of 500 million KZT (Prof. Sarsenbayev B.K., Aimenov Zh.T.); 2) Development of fertilizer mixtures – in the amount of 300 million KZT (Prof. Zhantasov K.T.).
In 2023, according to the scientific and technical assignment No. 17 “Creation of intersectoral research and production environmental complex for development and industrial implementation of new effective technologies for processing industrial wastes of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, together with Satpayev University, Aimenov Zh.T. and Kolesnikov A. won the program-targeted financing for 900 million KZT, according to the scientific and technical assignment No. 96 “Development of technologies for organic production and processing of agricultural products and formation of regional technological parks and engineering centers in the agro-industrial complex”, Alibayev N. presented a comprehensive project of the program-targeted financing for 4 billion KZT.
Until the end of 2023, based on the results of additional competitions for commercialization of scientific projects and program-targeted financing projects, an even increase in funding is expected.
Scientists of the institute submitted a total of 51 projects to various competitions of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Scientists of the institute have published 286 works in three years, in 2020 – 97 articles, in 2021 – 189 articles, in 2022 – 153 articles (as of 1 December 2022), including: 48 – in leading scientific journals in Scopus and Web of Science databases, 14 – in editions recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Education and Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, also 6 monographs and textbooks, 22 patents were received. 5 scientists of the institute are the authors of world scientific discoveries – Volnenko A.A., Korganbayev B.N., Aimenov Zh.T., Iztleuov G., Shevko V.M., four were awarded “Kurmet” medal (Aimenov Zh.T., Protopopov A.V., Zhantasov K.T., Anarbayev A.A.).
The research university is a scientific and educational complex with a developed innovation infrastructure, including educational bases, research institutes, research laboratories, etc. In this direction, M. Auezov SKU, of which our institute is an integral part, has achieved certain results. In 2022, in order to implement the task of increasing competitiveness, our university took part in seven global and two national rankings, taking 443rd position in the QS world ranking.
Taking into account the new tasks set by the head of the state, K-Zh.K. Tokayev, and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the institute in its Development Strategy determines the most promising and in-demand scientific directions. At the same time, along with fundamental and applied research, the priorities of research laboratories are innovative activities of the entrepreneurial type, the introduction of innovations into the economy of the region.
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