Why no one knows Kazakh science

Successful socio-economic modernization of the country requires science capable of responding quickly to the demands of society and industry. In the context of globalization, it must integrate into the international scientific sphere, and for this it must be international, operational and English–speaking. It is these factors that have become a challenge for Kazakhstani scientists.

The seminar on the preparation of applications for grant financing of scientific research (organized by JSC National Center for State Scientific and Technical Expertise (NCGNTE)) showed that for a good evaluation of a project, it is necessary not only to speak, but also to think with an expert literally in the same language (in Kazakhstan, for the first time in the CIS, expertise was introduced projects at the international level with the involvement of two foreign experts). It is necessary to publish in rating journals (only the Eurasian Journal of Chemical Technology is included in the unified abstract database Scopus, one of the largest in the world), and obtain international patents. However, this is not about publishing for the sake of publishing or patenting for the sake of patenting.

The recognition of scientific results is not determined by the number of publications, although no one denies their importance. The presence of international publications and patents removes the issues of scientific ethics and intellectual integrity, which, in particular, are given great attention during the foreign expertise of projects, and ensures recognition. But we must clearly understand the ultimate goal of our activities, and it is not limited to obtaining a grant. Our goal as scientists and patriots of our country is to make Kazakhstani science competitive.

We have examples of world-class achievements, confirmed by real results. Plants in Bolivia, Italy, Canada, and China operate using high-precision technology for processing lead-containing raw materials (established at VNIITSVETMET of the National Center for Integrated Processing of Mineral Raw Materials of the Republic of Kazakhstan). NC scientists (55 doctors and 124 candidates of sciences) received 5 really working international security documents in 2010-2011 alone (for comparison: in Kazakhstan, according to 2009 data, 1-2 international patents were obtained per 15,000 scientists). The patent for the Kazakhstansky alloy for deoxidation, modification and alloying of steel was purchased by German Thyssen Krupp and its partners. Currently, the construction of 3 plants in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Iceland is beginning for the production of the alloy.

Foreign experts involved in the examination of scientific projects, assessing the potential of domestic science, argue that "it is time for scientists of the Kazakh scientific community to become more famous on the world stage."

S. V. Efremova

Chief Scientific Secretary of the RSE "NC KPMS RK", Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor

Kursiv newspaper, No. 31 (457), AUGUST 9, 2012