A significant two-day scientific and technological session titled "Scientific and Technological Development of Mining Enterprises in the Republic of Kazakhstan" was held in Ust-Kamenogorsk at D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU). The event was organized with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and KazZinc LLP.
The primary goal of the session was to discuss the directions of scientific and technological development for Kazakhstan's mining enterprises, address the commercialization of scientific research, and conduct strategic sessions focused on research and development challenges. The event gathered 54 leading scientists from Kazakhstan and abroad, along with 12 experts from KazZinc LLP. It also welcomed notable guests such as Gulnara Bizhanova, Deputy Chair of the Board of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken," and Andrey Pavlovich Lazarev, Managing Director for Administrative Affairs at KazZinc.
The event was opened by Galymzhan Zhankuatov, Chairman of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In his opening remarks, he noted:
"The Ministry of Science and Higher Education, together with Kazakhmys Corporation LLP, is preparing three sessions on ore salt enrichment in the city of Balkhash. We plan to continue working with major industrial enterprises."
On the first day, a plenary session was held, during which participants discussed the current state of science and production in Kazakhstan, as well as their future. Gulnara Bizhanova stated:"We can confidently say that mechanisms for strategic reorganization, interaction, and enhancement in science are currently in an active phase. I want to thank the Ministry and our Minister, Sayasat Nurbek, for his strong engagement with this issue. He has rightfully directed science into the mines, the factories, and the industrial sector to offer its services. As Satpayev once said, ‘Science and industry must be inseparably linked.'"
Throughout the session, participants discussed research and innovative solutions in Kazakhstan's mining industry. In recent years, the importance of digitalization and automation in mining has grown significantly. Today, the sector is actively pursuing initiatives to enhance operations using artificial intelligence (AI) and the industrial internet of things (IIoT).
Zhadira Konurbayeva, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation at EKTU, emphasized: "In this context, our university is actively collaborating with research centers and KazZinc. We are developing scientific projects that benefit society, and the Industrial AI Competence Center plays a key role in this. The center is crucial for generating scientific and technological solutions essential for the mining industry in East Kazakhstan. In addition, we are working closely with KazZinc on the commercialization of research and the implementation of new technologies in production."
On the second day, participants focused on developing prototypes of scientific projects and selecting priority research initiatives for KazZinc. Attendees presented their scientific and technological prototypes, which were evaluated by experts through voting. As a result, the Top 5 projects were selected for further implementation in industrial practice.
At the conclusion of the session, participants were awarded certificates, and expert feedback was provided by representatives of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and KazZinc. This scientific and technological session made a significant contribution to advancing innovative solutions for Kazakhstan's mining industry and strengthening the link between science and industry.
As an outcome of the event, new areas and opportunities were identified for the scientific and technological development of Kazakhstan's mining enterprises.
