VI ASTANA ECONOMIC FORUM: The course of Kazakhstan for industrial-innovative development provides necessary conditions for elaboration and implementation of new scientific ideas and technologies - Maximilian Metzger
In its dialogue platform there have already been 130 speakers from more than 20 countries. On his expectations of the coming economic event in an interview with "Kazinform" reporter is saying Deputy Director General for International Cooperation of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany Maximilian Metzger.
- Mr. Metzger, the Innovative Congress, which is held every year in Kazakhstan, is a key event in this area. Could you tell us which part of the congress, in your mind, is the most interesting?
- I understand the Innovative Congress as an international forum for the open exchange and policy dialogue on development prospects of future cooperation in the fields of science, technology and innovation with Kazakhstan. Under the program high level speakers have been invited to the event. In general, I hope we can establish an important impetus for future cooperation between Kazakhstan and the European Union, as well as cooperation with Germany as the EU member-country.
- Will you assess the innovative development of Kazakhstan?
- We all know that the framework conditions must be created to support innovation, this applies to internal perspectives of the national innovation system as well as for international systems and relationships. From what I know I can conclude that Kazakhstan is in a very dynamic way to review and reset innovation policy. The strategy of development of Kazakhstan till 2050 together with such documents as the Strategic Development Plan up to 2020, or the State Program of Forced Industrial-Innovative Development of Kazakhstan for 2010-2014 provide regular, necessary conditions that support the development of research, technology and innovation in Kazakhstan.
- With which country can Kazakhstan be compared to, from the point of view of innovation development?
- This is a very interesting question, which is better to ask organizations such as the OECD and the European Union, because they regularly monitor the development of innovative, using specific indicators and criteria. Kazakhstan itself is a unique country. Taking the potential of Kazakhstan, summarizing all activity on innovation, national strategies and plans, we can say that innovation policy in Kazakhstan is a big priority, it is given special importance.
- Based on the experience of your country, in your opinion, what steps should be taken to Kazakhstan innovation progress?
- One difficult question is how scientific knowledge, gained and developed in public research organizations, can be used for innovation. Relevant steps are through the commercialization of public research include active patenting and licensing support (also international), support for scientific discovery, driven by demand, as well as support for technology transfer. We must create an environment where scientists can easily be exchanged between research and industry. Structurally, the interface of science as an industry can be enhanced through creation of politically and financially favorable conditions for joint projects and clusters, networks or promotion of joint laboratories. Last but not least, the public sector must also be seen as an important consumer of innovations and innovative markets can be created by encouraging the procurement of innovative products rather than cheaper options.
- Are all current developments innovations?
- While many current developments are produced every day, only a small portion of the population is involved in making innovations. In other words, a society is largely composed of non-innovation-minded people.
Basic research has a significant share of innovative development and should be recognized as such with financial and structural point of view.
Innovative development should be diversified and produced in various sectors. However, innovations are often only in certain sectors.
- In your view, is the course taken by Kazakhstan at the industrial-innovative development justified?
- Generally speaking, I suppose ‘yes', the course taken by Kazakhstan is justified. Germany is an example of a country that has maintained its industrial base and has a good line-up of small and medium-sized businesses in all sectors, with a significant contribution of SMEs in research and staff involved in conducting scientific work. For Kazakhstan it is important not only to focus on industrial innovation, but also to complement them with suitable innovative business models (i.e, a combination of technological innovation and business innovation).