• 23 July 2024
• 119

The Head of State signed the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Science and Technology Policy"

This document is aimed at the development of science and the implementation of technological policy, the introduction of the results of scientific achievements to ensure the competitiveness of the country, as well as to address strategic, professional and social issues of scientific activity.

✔️ First, in order to interconnect scientific and technological and economic policy of the state, a new mechanism for assessing the feasibility and technological readiness (TRL) for the implementation of scientific research from idea to mass production has been introduced.   TRL allows to cover all stages of the scientific production cycle and commercialization, providing support.

In this way, Kazakhstan’s scientific and technological policy will be aimed at reducing the innovation gap with respect to the world’s technological leaders.  

✔️ Second, the status of the Science Fund as the National Agency for Technology Commercialization has been expanded.   It will become a one-stop shop for science and technology programs and will support innovation infrastructure, as well as attract venture capital funding.

✔️ Third, a new mechanism for the collection, processing and analysis of scientific and technical information was introduced to monitor scientific achievements, the innovation market and new technologies with the establishment of the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Information.

✔️ Fourth, in order to stimulate scientists, the right to purchase favourable housing for young scientists is introduced.   Also within the framework of the law, the Tax Code provides for state incentives to provide subjects of scientific and (or) scientific-technical activity with tax benefits and tax deductions for expenses on research, scientific-technical and development activities.  Tax deductions of 50 per cent are also available. 

✔️ Fifth, the Law improves the structure of science management.   The Law proposes to give local executive bodies competences to implement the state policy in the field of science and to coordinate the work on scientific research in the form of government grant funding.

It also defines the new status of the National Academy of Sciences in the form of a higher scientific organization, specifying its competences, sources of funding and the powers of its Board of Trustees, General Assembly of Academicians, Presidium and Board.

In addition, the President signed the Law on Public Procurement, which simplifies the procurement procedure for scientific organizations.   Thus, procurement procedures of research institutes and organizations of higher or postgraduate education to perform scientific research and scientific works are now carried out according to the rules approved by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in coordination with the authorized body in the field of public procurement.