On April 9, 2025, D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU) conducted a specialized strategic planning seminar for representatives of the business community at the Tajik State University of Commerce (TSUC) in Dushanbe. The event marked the final stage of the educational program organized within the framework of the international project “Promoting Innovation Through University Research: A Joint Initiative Between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan,” implemented with the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the PECA program.

The seminar aimed to engage the industrial sector in research processes, shape a shared agenda for sustainable development, and identify priority research areas capable of delivering practical outcomes in the context of current economic transformations. Designed with the principle “from motivation to action,” the program integrated international expertise with collaborative team-based work, enabling participants to both reflect on emerging challenges and propose actionable solutions.

EKTU experts presented a strategic interaction model between science and industry, based on the “why–what–how” methodology. The discussions focused on changing consumer demand, increasing environmental regulations, transformation of supply chains, and the shift toward a low-carbon economy. Solutions were explored through the adoption of digital platforms, blockchain technologies, big data, artificial intelligence, and biotechnologies.

Special emphasis was placed on the university’s role as a generator of technological solutions, capable of not only responding to market demands but also jointly setting the innovation agenda alongside industry partners. EKTU presented its successful involvement in international projects such as OCTA Innovation, NANOEATERS, SMART-TIO, and PRIMA, enhancing trust among participants and elevating the discussion to a broader regional level.

The practical part of the seminar involved a team-based session using strategic foresight planning across different time horizons. Representatives from the business sector, academia, and faculty members collaboratively identified key challenges in the food industry, categorized them, and outlined relevant research directions for the short-, medium-, and long-term. Priority topics included the shortage of engineering personnel, low profit margins, technological lag, the need for import substitution, and entry into export markets.

As a result, a portfolio of joint research proposals was developed, including pilot production lines, the integration of AI in food logistics, testing of bio- and nanomaterials, and the creation of a sustainable platform for continuous collaboration between universities and the private sector.

The seminar became a strategic starting point for establishing a long-term dialogue between science and business across Central Asia. EKTU’s approach to integrating academic research into industrial processes was highly appreciated by participants as an effective tool for enhancing enterprise resilience and competitiveness in an evolving economic landscape.