Nuclear Technologies Park at Kurchatov picks up new profitable projects

According to the press service of the Kazakh MFA, the idea to establish a park of technologies in Kurchatov, the former secret nerve centre of the Soviet nuclear testing programme at the nearby Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, was first suggested in 2003. The park was established in 2005.

At first, some international experts reacted to the idea with a great deal of scepticism, the Liter national daily reminds in an article published on 2 April. After a series of apparent successes, however, they now consider the park as a rather visionary and promising project in Kazakhstan.

The innovative aspect of the project is the main requirement in the park which is to create unique ventures together with partners from different countries. And this model seems to be working.

Techno-park's companies, using industrial electron accelerators, have created a range of products many of which are designed for irradiation, which, among other purposes, can be used to kill bacteria and improve mechanical, thermal and chemical properties of products which are based on polymers. Companies established by the park have certified many manufactured products, participate in government's procurement tenders and have already found customers.

During the five years of existence, the Park of Nuclear Technologies has managed to establish a modern infrastructure, install the main facilities, organise a number of productions, and now makes returns to the budget once invested in its development.

Heads of several companies established at the park give very positive and promising estimates of its work.

"Modern infrastructure, highly skilled personnel and investment opportunities of the park have allowed our company to quickly establish the first in Kazakhstan production of radiation-cross-linked foamed polyethylene which meets all the international quality standards," Director of the joint Kazakh-Russian company KazFoam, created in 2009 at the Park, Dmitry Boltovskiy said. "I believe the Park of Nuclear Technologies is a successful platform for the development of innovative, high-tech companies in Kazakhstan," he added.

Sergei Kotov, Technical Director of the joint Kazakh-Ukrainian enterprise Dempurg-PNT said, "Business is being done here and there are several reasons for that. The first, most important reason in my opinion is the funding, which virtually any project capable of proving its viability and availability of the innovation component can receive from the park."

"Geographical location, if you look at the map, is not such a weak aspect of Kurchatov, too," Kotov continued. "Nearby, within three-hour drive, two powerful industrial centres of Kazakhstan - Pavlodar and Ust-Kamenogorsk are located, as well as the city of Semey (former Semipalatinsk) is also only 130 kilometres from Kurchatov."

The park's location is also very convenient for doing business with Russian partners because the centre of Siberia is just 800 kilometres away.

"In addition, the modern building of the industrial park is also worth mentioning because it is adapted to accommodate plants of different size and orientation. The cost of rent in the early years of a company is significantly below than any other facilities of such level. Based on these factors, it is clear the park in Kurchatov can become the right place to start production-oriented business," Kotov noted.

"Park of Nuclear Technologies is a young company, nonetheless, it develops in a confident and dynamic pace. Today, the company has a modern infrastructure, makes extensive use of nuclear physics installations, has organised around 10 enterprises which not only managed to produce new materials but also have become profitable," CEO of another joint Kazakh-Russian company Xsenon Aliya Sarsenbayeva stated.

"Furthermore, in December 2010, the park was awarded with a certificate of compliance with the ISO 9001:2008 (registration number 7510070395) standard. The certificate confirms the compliance with the international quality level of work carried out in the area of research, examination and selection of innovative projects, conduction of market research and business plan development, investment of innovative projects, search for investors and co-investors, irradiation of materials with a directed flow of electrons to provide them with new physical and chemical properties or conduct a radiation sterilisation," Aliya Sarsenbayeva emphasised.

"Today, the Park of Nuclear Technologies is a steadily developing platform for establishment, strengthening and restoring of high-technology businesses," Directorof a joint Kazakh-Russian company MunayGazIzolyatsiya Daniyar Dzhumatayev said. "Due to effective management and coordinated work of employees of the park, the brand has become known not only in Kazakhstan but also far beyond our borders. Generally, a lot can be said about the well-developed external relations of the park, but the positive feedback of the participants of the international conference "Innovative Technologies. Reality and Perspectives", held on September 20-23, 2010, speak for themselves," Daniyar Dzhumatayev highlighted.

"The Park of Nuclear Technologies successfully and promptly implements innovative technologies, thereby, paving the way for promotion of science and business in Kazakhstan. After all, success comes when opportunity meets preparedness," Zarina Dautova, an accountant of a Park-based Kazakh-Korean Kaz-Kor NuTech Company noted.