Scientific Research 
Initiatives

In December 2022, the Center was re-registered within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) and transformed into a non-profit organisation — the Samgau Center for Scientific and Technological Initiatives Foundation (CSTI).

The goal of the CSTI is to support scientific research and innovation by building an efficient and transparent ecosystem that fosters the development of a knowledge-based economy and enhances public well-being.

As part of the national innovation and research system, CSTI builds partnerships with government bodies, development institutions, research organisations and universities, industry representatives, and financial institutions. This cooperation contributes to the formation of a unified science and technology development policy across the Fund’s group, aimed at ensuring long-term economic sustainability and strengthening global competitiveness.

Since December 2023, the Fund’s subsoil users have been financing research activities through CSTI. The implemented “one-stop-shop” mechanism for project selection and funding has become a key tool for optimising and increasing the transparency of resource allocation within the Fund.

Within the Fund’s group, a “demand-driven approach” is applied, based on formulating technological challenges directly from production needs. This approach ensures that the real requirements of enterprises are captured and made transparent to the scientific community.

In 2025, two innovative technological diagnostics were conducted at the production facilities of Ozenmunaigas JSC and NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC. Participation was also made in three technology sessions (hackathons) at NC QazaqGaz JSC, NAC Kazatomprom JSC, and NC KazMunayGas JSC. Based on these results, R&D topics were approved by the Higher Scientific and Technical Commission under the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for funding under the programme-targeted financing of the Ministry of Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for scientific and technical programs for 2025-2027 and 2026-2028. In July 2025, the Digital R&D Management Platform was launched⁴¹. A total of 78 organizations were registered on the platform, including 18 applicant companies and 60 contractors.

During 2025, 13 meetings of the Fund’s Scientific and Technical Council were held, as a result of which 24 projects were approved for funding; 38 funding agreements were concluded (including projects approved in previous periods).

The Samruk Innovation Hub competition was launched to attract young scientists, employees of the Fund’s group, and Bolashak scholarship alumni to develop innovative technological solutions for current production and operational challenges. A total of 51 proposals were submitted by representatives of universities, scientific organisations and industrial enterprises. Of these, 30 proposals (58%) were shortlisted as a relevant to the companies’ needs, and 3 projects were approved for funding. One project has already been successfully completed, resulting in the development of hydrophobic coating formulation for high-voltage power lines.

For the first time, the “Best Innovative Company” competition was held to support technological development and encourage innovation within portfolio companies. The winners were:

• Best Innovative Company – NAC Kazatomprom JSC
• Leader of Production Innovations - Karazhanbasmunai JSC
• employees of Samruk-Energy JSC, NAC Kazatomprom JSC, NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC, KEGOC JSC, NC KazMunayGas JSC were recognised in nominations "Best Innovator" and "Best Implemented Rationalisation Solution".