VI Astana Economic Forum: Innovative Kazakhstan to serve as an example for other countries in Central Asia, National Coordinator of VII EU Framework Program to Kazakhstan

- We know that your organization is involved in the organization of the Innovation Congress. Will you tell us more about it?

Of course, I will. We are actively involved in the organization of the Congress this year. Moreover, our project called IncoNet-CASC, co-funded by the European Commission through the 7th Framework Programme, is one of the initiators of the exhibition of European technology at the Astana Economic Forum, that allows Kazakh national companies to get access to the best EU technology.

This is our first experience in selection and delivery to Kazakhstan the technologies developed during the sixth and seventh EU framework programs. Totally to date the European technology market places 23,000 solutions. Thanks to the assistance of the National Agency for Technological Development the Kazakh national companies have selected 42 suitable technologies available to users in this market. Not all solutions have been available for purchase at the moment, so we have put out today only eleven of them. Furnishing the exhibition we took into account the adaptability of the proposed technologies in the Kazakh market.

- In 2012 you were involved in bringing independent highly qualified EU experts from Austria, Germany, Poland, France and Armenia for analyzing scientific, technological and innovation policy in Kazakhstan. Can you share with us the results of their activity?

- The examination was carried out with direct involvement and support of the National Coordinator of Framework Program and the National Agency for Technological Development. The findings will be presented at the plenary session of the Congress. Since I have been personally involved in all these activities, and our organization is preparing the country report, which became part of the analysis, I would like to bring to your attention some of the conclusions of the document submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister A. Isekeshev.

The international team of highly qualified experts notes that the country has established a strong foundation for higher education, science, technology and innovation. Strategic action plans developed for many decades to come. In general, much has been done, but it is necessary to take into account that creation of innovative economy means a lot of work, which may take 15-20 years. You can not expect very quick results. Kazakhstan has slowly but thoroughly, step by step, to create a sustainable system based on medium-and long-term plans of the National Innovation System (NIS). The most important parts of NIS have already been established. And now we are in need of strengthening the relationship and cooperation, especially between science and business. Innovation must feed fundamental knowledge. Planning of scientific and technological innovation and development should provide adaptive potential of NIS.

First of all, the panelists recommend the system to continue systematic work, strengthen the power and influence of governments, development agencies and executive bodies on the ground.

Second, an important aspect of rapid development is transfer of innovative technology from the most developed countries. Along with the domestic development of technology transfer from the advanced countries like members of the European Union can provide a powerful breakthrough in progress of Kazakhstan.

Third, participation in the EU Framework Programs should be viewed as a strategy for scientific and technological cooperation with the EU and access to European technology. To be successful in the EU Framework Programs requires a well-organized network of national programs in Kazakhstan. Kazakh network of focal points involves the key figures of the national innovation system of the Republic of Kazakhstan, but not strong enough, because it is only supported by FP7 projects. Today, this network should have a real public support.

In general, the national innovation system of Kazakhstan is developing in the right way and in many ways can serve as an example for other countries in the region of Central Asia.

- What are the problematic issues of implementing innovation in Kazakhstan& Will you point them out?

- First of all, it is lack of understanding of innovation processes in the field, failure to identify innovation from simply improved existing product. There are no clear mechanisms for realizing innovative programs, effective taxation for state grants for innovative projects.

The government should use a variety of instruments for stimulating innovation, including adoption of standards and rules for the technology that will make innovative product at the initial stage of a highly competitive and relatively inexpensive. We need a clearly written laws in support of the state program for implementation of priority innovation projects. There should be set up innovation clusters, which include the entire chain - from the laboratory to the industrial design of new products. Any government grants available for elaborating innovative new products created by Kazakh companies or adapted from abroad, should be free of local taxes.