Kozybayev University: Forming a New Ecosystem

Today, regional universities in Kazakhstan are expanding beyond traditional educational platforms – emerging as hubs for technological breakthroughs and centers of attraction for investment. A striking example of this transformation is Kozybayev University. Through state support and synergy with global educational leaders – such as the University of Arizona – the university is building a "seamless" connection between the laboratory and production.

How can "industrial ballast" be transformed into a high-value resource? What role do student startups play in the digitalization of the urban environment? And why does the future of regional science depend on multidisciplinary teams? In an interview with our publication, Erbol ISAKAYEV – Chairman of the Board and Rector of North Kazakhstan Kozybayev University – discusses strategic ambitions, international expertise, and the practical outcomes of scientific activity.

– Erbol Maratovich, a more active interaction has now emerged between university science and practical activity in the economic, industrial, social, and other spheres. Not long ago, the university announced the start of joint work with the country’s largest company, KazMunayGas. Could you please tell us more about this? Has this trend manifested itself at the university in any other beneficial alliances and projects?

– In the context of global competition, it is precisely science and innovation that become the key factors for the sustainable development of states. The strategic course of Kazakhstan is focused on building a knowledge economy, where education, science, and innovation act as key priorities for the country's development – which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. These guidelines are also reflected in state policy, where special attention is paid to strengthening the scientific potential of higher education institutions.

At a meeting with the scientific community at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the President of Kazakhstan noted that all foreign university branches opened in the country are designed to help increase competitiveness in the field of higher education. We were the first in the republic – in 2022 – to launch a strategic partnership project with the University of Arizona, USA. Over this time, a great deal of work has been done, and six dual-degree educational programs have been opened. However, now we must not limit ourselves only to academic activity. Our task is to conduct deep, joint research aimed at the economic development of the region and the country.

One such project is the deep processing of elemental sulfur. Kazakhstan ranks seventh in the world in the production of this mineral. Mostly, the bulk of it is sold in raw form or used for the manufacture of low-margin sulfuric acid. Sulfur is a byproduct of natural gas and oil refining. Its accumulation in huge quantities on open storage sites creates a serious environmental burden – under certain conditions, sulfur can oxidize, which leads to soil acidification and a negative impact on the ecosystem.

Our task is to transform this "industrial ballast" into a high-value resource.

Therefore, the research of our scientists is becoming particularly relevant.

The project is led by a world-renowned scientist – Professor Jeffrey Pyun. Thanks to this partnership, Kozybayev University has gained access to a unique technology protected by 11 international patents. Thus, while sulfur was previously perceived exclusively as waste – today, thanks to the synergy with the University of Arizona and state support, we are creating a new technological cluster in North Kazakhstan.

We plan to develop this case by producing sulfur-based mineral fertilizers for the agro-cluster – where sulfur enclosed in a polymer shell is released gradually without burning the soil – as well as using polymers to extract valuable metals in the oil and gas industry and subsoil use. It is particularly valuable for us that the project received a positive assessment from the Head of State at the Strategic Partners Forum. The President emphasized that our task is to ensure a direct link between education, science, and the real sector of the economy.

"...Thanks to the partnership between Kozybayev University and the University of Arizona, an advanced technology has been developed to transform sulfur into innovative polymers. This is a highly necessary project for our country, which possesses large sulfur reserves. This project will provide a serious impetus to the development of our chemical industry and – what is especially important – will contribute to solving a number of environmental problems," he said at the time. We are grateful for such a high assessment and support of our scientific initiatives.

In this direction, cooperation has begun with JSC NC KazMunayGas – within the framework of which an application has been submitted for program-targeted funding in the amount of 500 million tenge.

Thanks to the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, we were able to build a partnership – and KazMunayGas supported our project with co-financing in the amount of 300 million tenge.

On the whole, we are consistently developing practice-oriented scientific research and building partnerships with large companies. For instance, we have begun actively cooperating with JSC NAC Kazatomprom, the Kazakhmys Corporation, and the ERG company. Joint cases in the fields of water resources, chemical ecology, and new materials are currently being developed. Additionally, projects involving regional businesses in North Kazakhstan are being implemented – including the introduction of wastewater treatment and waste recycling technologies, as well as research in the agro-industrial complex. Thus, the university is forming a sustainable model of "science – business – production" interaction, where scientific developments do not remain at the theoretical level but find practical application, contributing to the development of the economy of the region and the country as a whole.

– In terms of commercialization, are you managing to adopt the successful foreign mechanisms of your main strategic partner – the University of Arizona? And if so, could you please tell us more about what they entail, whether they affect the organization of internal university work, the emergence of new structures within the university, or something else?

– Yes, cooperation with the University of Arizona serves as a powerful catalyst for our transformation into a research university. We are actively adopting commercialization mechanisms through joint high-tech research. A joint project has been implemented by our scientists alongside colleagues from the University of Arizona – Charles Gerba and Irina Panyushkina – on the microbiological assessment of water: drinking and agricultural waters in six districts of the region were studied. The goal is to develop a program for assessing the microbiological quality of irrigation water intended for growing high-quality food crops in Kazakhstan.

In addition, we already have results from our own scientific research. Kozybayev University has embarked on the implementation of a major scientific project within the framework of program-targeted funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan – aimed at solving strategically important tasks in the development and implementation of high-tech solutions for the monitoring, purification, and rational use of water resources in the North Kazakhstan Region. Upon completion, a laboratory is planned to be launched in the format of an multidisciplinary center providing applied research, pilot-industrial testing, and technology transfer into production – which will contribute to the development of a new direction in the industrial-innovative development of both the region and the university. To date, six new laboratories for water quality determination and agrochemical analysis have been opened at the university within its framework. Modern equipment allows for the analysis of physicochemical and microbiological indicators, as well as the presence of heavy metals in water.

The university also possesses equipment unique to the region for determining the quality of feed and milk, alongside instruments for studying grain crop indicators and soil fertility levels. Kozybayev University intends to provide regional agricultural producers with services for these types of analyses.

"For instance, around 110 dairy farms have been established in our region. Our task is to assist them in conducting high-quality research and product analysis. In general, over the course of three years, more than 2 billion tenge is planned to be allocated for updating and improving our material and technical base.

Furthermore, as is well known, 20 centers of academic and research excellence are being established across the country on the basis of 15 regional universities – at the initiative of the Head of State. Such a center is already taking shape at Kozybayev University. This will allow us to systematically build our work in priority areas – including personnel training, the development of scientific potential and technologies, and interaction with enterprises. Within the framework of the Center of Academic and Research Excellence, multidisciplinary research will be conducted and new scientific schools will be formed. The center is oriented toward meeting the needs of regional enterprises."

– Are there any other foreign partners whose experience you consider beneficial for the implementation of applied scientific ideas and projects?

– Since 2017, our university has been building strategic cooperation with the Northwest A&F University of China within the framework of the "One Belt – One Road" international initiative. Over these years, this collaboration has grown into a fully-fledged academic and scientific partnership.

Academic mobility has become one of the key areas of bilateral interaction. Over these years, around 100 undergraduate and graduate students from China have studied at our university – while 30 students from Kozybayev University have studied at the Chinese institution. Currently, another 35 students (including 2 dual-degree master's students) and 2 doctoral students are gaining knowledge there, as well as unique practical skills at agricultural enterprises. Northwest A&F University is among the key universities in the PRC – supported by state development programs for higher education – and is renowned for its strong scientific schools in crop genetics and breeding, plant protection, agricultural biotechnology, water resource management, and animal husbandry. We are conducting serious joint scientific research in the fields of food security, agronomy, crop breeding, water resources, and the creation of a breeding station for dairy stud bulls in the North Kazakhstan Region.

The main task of our university is the development of regional scientific clusters – including fields such as the agro-industrial complex, food security, and water supply.

In 2025 – with the support of the Akimat of the North Kazakhstan Region and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Kozybayev University, jointly with the Henan Agricultural Investment Group (PRC), embarked on implementing an initiative to create the Kazakh-Chinese Technopark of Agricultural Technologies and Export Development in the Kyzylzhar District.

This unique project is being implemented for the first time not only in Kazakhstan, but in all of Central Asia. The investment volume from the Chinese partner will amount to 10 million dollars. A joint venture will be established with equity participation from both the Chinese investors and the university. Within a relatively short period, the parties managed to complete a significant amount of preparatory work: a cooperation agreement was signed, the regional akimat allocated a 62.5-hectare land plot to the university, and the first batch of seeds – 32 varieties of wheat, corn, and soy with a total weight of 177 kilograms – was delivered from China. Concurrently, the scheme for conducting scientific research on variety trials and breeding was refined, the plan for the future demonstration park was established, and the necessary registration procedures are underway. This demonstration park is conceived as a modern agro-scientific complex with a total construction area of about 35 thousand square meters. It will include research laboratories, greenhouse complexes, agricultural product processing facilities, warehouse and logistics infrastructure, as well as administrative buildings and dormitories.

The implementation of the project is of strategic importance for the region. It is expected to attract foreign direct investment, create new jobs, and form production clusters. Special attention will be paid to the development of seed production, the introduction of modern agricultural technologies, the processing of agricultural products, and the expansion of greenhouse farming. A major outcome will be the establishment of a sustainable export channel to China, which will increase the competitiveness of products from North Kazakhstan farmers. Beyond the economic impact, the project will strengthen the scientific and educational base of the university and create a modern demonstration platform for farmers, students, and specialists in the agro-industrial complex. In the long term, the technopark could become one of the key drivers of agricultural development in the region and an important element of international cooperation in the field of agricultural technologies – providing an additional impetus to strengthening North Kazakhstan's position as one of the country's leading agricultural hubs.

Speaking of international cooperation, it is important to note that our university strives to integrate foreign scientists into its activities as well. Attracting them is not just an "image-building story," but a tool to accelerate the development of university science.

Without external expertise, universities often simmer in their own system and move towards the international level more slowly.

Meanwhile, such collaborations ensure the integration of universities into the international scientific space, expanding opportunities for joint projects and publications.

In 2025, Kozybayev University attracted 33 foreign scientists from the USA, Turkey, Italy, Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Russia, and Poland. Furthermore, in the current year, 6 researchers from France, Portugal, Turkey, China, India, and Pakistan have already joined us. Moreover, we have strengthened our own staff with five scientists from Italy and Turkey. Thanks to this approach, we have launched a number of scientific projects. One example is the School of Genomics and Bioinformatics. Such a course has been implemented for the first time not only in Kazakhstan, but in all of Central Asia.

The project complies with international standards and combines best practices, modern technologies, and the participation of recognized global experts. The program is designed for students and researchers. Participants work with modern datasets and gain practical experience in computational analysis on various genome sequencing platforms. Since genomics and bioinformatics have become essential tools for national development – determining how countries will feed their populations, preserve biodiversity, and guarantee food security in the coming decades – the work of the School is capable of transforming approaches to breeding and improving our key agricultural crops, thereby strengthening the country's potential to preserve its unique biological diversity.

– How has such international cooperation influenced the development of the scientific cluster at the university and in the region as a whole?

– Over the 2023–2025 period, the funding volume for research and development (R&D) at the university increased by 22%. In 2025, 12 scientific projects were implemented with a total budget of 1,334.28 million tenge, and applications were submitted for another 19 projects.

At an award ceremony for scientists, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, noted the significance of the role of universities in scientific research and innovation, calling on them to become pioneers in these fields. He also emphasized the need for active participation of domestic enterprises in the development of science, stating that to create new products, cooperation between business and universities must be established.

Our university is actively involved in these processes. Last year, the Regional Council for Science was established, headed by the Akim of the North Kazakhstan Region. A number of meetings were held at the university involving regional enterprises and scientists. Furthermore, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and local executive bodies, a Regional Scientific and Technological Session (hackathon) took place, which brought together business and scientists from the North Kazakhstan Region to develop concrete projects.

Currently, the university has built a clear model for such cooperation. Agreements have been concluded with 66 enterprises to establish 7 industry consortia aimed at strengthening the partnership between science, education, and business in the following areas: the agro-industrial complex, industry, AI and digital technologies, energy, and socio-humanitarian development.

They provide us with the opportunity to work directly with companies, receive applied tasks from them, and solve them from a scientific point of view. Thus, we are focusing on projects that will bring tangible benefits to the region.

– How is the process of project support organized at the university today, from the initial idea to practical implementation? What structure in your university builds the work with businesses? Who is involved in it – is it university staff who have undergone some additional training, or do you attract external consultants, perhaps from abroad?

– The core link is the Commercialization Office, which was reorganized in 2025 to strengthen ties with production. It is staffed by full-time employees for whom training has been organized through courses at Kazpatent and other specialized organizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan. We also bring in republican experts to conduct specialized seminars.

A positive experience in this direction is the joint submission of applications for commercialization contests alongside the university's regional partners. In 2025 alone, 7 applications were submitted.

The total budget for these projects amounts to 1.71 billion tenge, of which more than 412 million represents real investment from business.

Among the successfully commercialized scientific projects implemented under grants with the university's regional partners, we can highlight a case on the rehabilitation of water bodies using the Chlorella microalgae developed at the university, carried out jointly with Water Scientific and Technological Center LLP. The center is based at Kozybayev University, where our scientists work and students gain practical skills. In the course of the research, our own patented microalgae strain, Chlorella vulgaris SKO, was developed. Its production capacity stands at 600 tons per year. Thanks to this strain, storage ponds in Petropavl, Kostanay, and Shymkent have been biologically rehabilitated: it was possible to reduce unpleasant odors, improve water quality, and increase zooplankton growth and fish activity. The project, based on self-sustaining decarbonization and wastewater treatment technology, won an award at the GCIP (Global Cleantech Innovation Programme) by the UN.

Another successful project is the collaboration between Kozybayev University and SK Protein LLP to commercialize a technology for the recycling and processing of cattle and horse hides into a high-protein feed additive. This project won a grant funding competition from the Science Fund JSC worth approximately 350 million tenge. As test trials showed, broiler chickens that received this protein feed meal significantly outperformed their peers in the control group by 20–22% in terms of live weight.

Both of the aforementioned companies pay royalties to our university annually in the amount of up to 4% of the sales from these projects.

– How do you assess the potential of your students: are there many future scientists among them? How are they involved in the implementation of applied research at the university, and what are their prospects immediately upon graduation?

– The potential of our students is indeed high and strategically important for the personnel sovereignty of the region. Today, the university is building an integrated trajectory of "school – bachelor's – master's – doctorate – post-doctorate," which allows us to identify future scientists at an early stage. We see a steady interest in science among young people: the number of students participating in research and development (R&D) and startup projects grows annually, and student scientific societies (SSS) operate within every department.

Students are also involved in the university's applied research – this is an obligatory element of our educational model. They do not just study theory, but act as full co-investigators within the framework of grant and program-targeted funding. In particular, they participate in projects on water resource monitoring, agrobiotechnologies, and IT developments implemented jointly with our foreign partners (the University of Arizona and PRC universities). This allows them to work with modern equipment and master international research protocols.

Even at the level of graduation projects and doctoral dissertations, we have created a model where all student research work has an ultimate beneficiary in the form of enterprises, government institutions, businesses, etc.

Our students conduct their scientific research based on specific tasks in agriculture, mechanical engineering, electric power engineering, pedagogy, and other fields.

Moreover, this year we will launch a project to form multidisciplinary student groups. Suppose a large agricultural enterprise has a task that requires solving problems related to agricultural management, the application of AI, and economic calculations of company efficiency. Accordingly, groups will be created comprising students from agronomy, IT, and economic faculties. In this way, we are moving from narrowly specialized scientific projects to broad, multidisciplinary solutions.

We understand that the successful development of the region is possible only through a tight loop of "production – science – state." An example of the effectiveness of such a collaboration is the AI projects implemented by Kozybayev University students by order of institutions and enterprises of the North Kazakhstan Region within the activities of the regional Tomorrow School campus. With the participation of the regional Police Department, a mobile app for monitoring intercity transportation and an automated system for responding to citizens' inquiries, "Scroll," were developed. Jointly with the Raduga KDR company, an application was created for the automated detection of product defects based on production data. A development project is also underway with the Prosecutor's Office of the North Kazakhstan Region to create an interactive AI map of road accidents in the region.

We see the prospects for graduates who have proven themselves in science in several key areas.

Academic Career: The most talented graduates receive targeted support to enroll in master's and doctoral programs – including dual-degree programs – which ensures the continuity of the university's scientific schools.

Thanks to our cooperation with the University of Arizona, additional opportunities are opening up for our young researchers. For instance, dual-degree program students Amir Agzamov and Daniil Gerasimov successfully completed a scientific internship at one of the world's leading research universities – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), located in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, Amir also completed an internship under the "NUS Amgen Scholars Program 2024" at the National University of Singapore. This year, along with 28 other fourth-year students, he also traveled to study in Arizona, USA.

With the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, we are actively implementing practice-oriented learning. The dual education system has proven itself well; today, around 480 students are enrolled in it. It allows residents of the North Kazakhstan Region to obtain an education after college or pursue a second higher education degree without interrupting their employment. The programs are integrated with colleges and now last two years. For example, we have 220 people studying in the pedagogical field under the dual system. These are primary school, physical education, and music teachers, as well as kindergarten educators and special education teachers. To achieve this, we concluded tripartite agreements, provided access to all educational resources, and allowed people to undergo training without significant disruption from their workplaces. The same principle applies to training implemented with major enterprises – including the S. M. Kirov Plant, PZTM (Petropavl Heavy Engineering Plant), Alageum Electric LLP, the Raduga KDR company, and others – and we are grateful to our partners for this.

Work in the Innovation Sector: Experience in participating in applied projects makes our graduates highly sought-after specialists in the R&D departments of large industrial and agricultural enterprises in the region.

In addition, we see good dynamics in the implementation of the "Industrial PhD" project, under which 5 doctoral students are currently studying at Kozybayev University – all of whom are employees of major regional enterprises and institutions: the Department of Digital Technologies of the North Kazakhstan Region, the RSE "KazStandard," the Kazakhstan Institute of Standardization and Metrology of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and JSC S. M. Kirov Plant. This year, we plan to admit another 10 people.

At the same time, they conduct their dissertation research directly at their enterprises, which solves their specific operational tasks and challenges.

Technological Entrepreneurship: Having their own developments, which have been tested at the university's business incubator, allows graduates to commercialize their ideas.

For example, Kozybayev University has concluded a cooperation agreement with its students Andrey Kazantsev and Daniyal Abuov – the authors of the modern digital ecosystem startup project inCampus. The application integrates dormitory management, schedules, an electronic journal, and student services. The effectiveness of the system has already been confirmed by its practical implementation: its use ensured the complete digitalization of the check-in process for student dormitories. The application allows thousands of applications to be processed in a matter of seconds – significantly reducing the workload on staff and accelerating service for students. The university plans to further implement the inCampus platform in its management and service processes, while the authors of the project intend to scale it up for other educational institutions in Kazakhstan.

Within the framework of the signed agreement, the student developers will receive 90% of the profit from the sales of the digital product.

In the context of growing R&D funding in recent years, creating opportunities for young researchers has become a priority task for us. We are confident that the formation of a new generation of scientists is not only a matter of the university's prestige, but also a direct contribution to the industrial-innovative development of North Kazakhstan.

– What would you, as the head of the leading scientific and educational center of the North Kazakhstan Region, like to realize for the development and prosperity of the region?

– At Kozybayev University, we see our mission as transforming the North Kazakhstan Region into an intellectual and technological hub where innovation becomes the main driver of the quality of life.

Our main goal is to build a seamless connection between the university laboratory and the production floor. We strive to ensure that any large enterprise in the region – whether an agricultural holding or a mechanical engineering plant – views Kozybayev University as its primary research and development department.

This implies the creation of a fully-fledged agro-technopark and a network of centers of excellence where technologies tailored specifically to the realities of the northern region will be born.

At the same time, science should not be a "thing in itself." Our vision includes the implementation of the green projects we discussed earlier: clean water, industrial waste recycling, and sustainable agriculture.

Retaining and multiplying human capital is equally important. For the region to prosper, it is critically important that talented youth remain here. We would like to create an environment in Petropavl that is on par with global metropolises in terms of access to knowledge. Thanks to our partnership in implementing dual-degree programs with the University of Arizona and the Northwest A&F University of China, we provide the opportunity to obtain world-class diplomas without leaving the homeland.

On the whole, we see that the state is creating all the necessary conditions for the development of regional science, and we strive to implement a university model that not only educates and researches, but also actively shapes the economic agenda of the region – becoming a point of support for both the state and business. The prosperity of North Kazakhstan lies in combining the traditions for which our land is famous with the bold scientific ambitions that we are bringing to life today.

Ultimately, Kozybayev University is already forming a new model of regional development in which the university becomes a center of attraction for ideas, talents, and technologies. Such transformations strengthen Kazakhstan's position on the global map of science and innovation, turning regional initiatives into a factor of national growth. It is precisely through such points of development that the country takes a confident step toward technological independence and a sustainable future.

Interviewer:

Aleksandr PETRUKHIN

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ANNOTATION

The interview with the Rector of Kozybayev University reveals the key aspects of the university's transformation into a modern research center. Erbol Isakayev discusses the strategic partnership with the University of Arizona and leading universities of the PRC, the creation of an agro-technological cluster, and the implementation of unique commercialization projects – ranging from digital ecosystems to the deep processing of industrial raw materials. The university places special emphasis on training a new generation of scientists and introducing a multidisciplinary approach.