- Published: 20 December 2017 /
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Starting from 2016, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan jointly with the World Bank, implements the Fostering Productive Innovation Project aimed at creating conditions for market selection of technological start-ups and attracting private business for participation in them.
The Project offers grants to various scientific groups.
Selection of works applying for grant programs is conducted by the best international specialists, collected by the World Bank and the Ministry of Education and Science to the Science and Commercialization Board (ISCB). All ISCB members have international experience in commercialization of scientific technologies.
ISCB member Dr. Thomas Cellucci, a recognized expert in practical commercialization of new and emerging technologies, and the first chief commercialization officer in executive bodies of the US Federal Government during the administration of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, spoke about the work of the Board and criteria for selecting projects.
Dr. Thomas, the first question: What is your opinion on scientific projects of Kazakhstan?
- I can say that I am impressed by the growing quality of incoming applications. And I, and other members of the Board, note the qualitative changes in the projects being presented: they are getting better and more interesting. We are very satisfied.
What areas are represented by submitted applications?
- Many projects on agriculture, mining, oil and gas. They look better composed, more balanced and close to the conditions that we aspire to.
What projects did you find most interesting this year? Can you tell us more about them?
- I do not think that it will be right now to single out individual projects, after all, significant work has been done on all applications submitted for selection. And even for those who did not become a winner. There were good ideas, but subsequent commercialization of projects is extremely important to us. I was impressed by the fact that more and more applications include cooperation with organizations outside of Kazakhstan. In my opinion, it is wonderful to develop cooperation with scientists and businessmen outside the local market. Partnership can be different and one must understand the importance of cooperation in the context of globalization.
How carefully is the selection of scientific projects applying for grants?
- We critically review projects, ask clarifying questions, ask for details on the stages, realizing responsibility to the Kazakhstani society.
We do not take premature decisions and approach the choice, carefully analyzing and listening to each member of our team to be sure of correctness of the conclusion on perspective
It is important that Kazakhstani people understand and take into account the fact that it is their money that is used to finance technological and innovative start-ups.
What is the specific benefit for Kazakhstan in financing the Fostering Productive Innovation Project?
- This is a complex solution, which is difficult to measure by one criterion. In Kazakhstan they seek to commercialize ideas in order to bring them to the international market. The last group of applications impressed me the most, because I see that the implementation of these projects can bring Kazakhstan a great economic benefit.
How is the innovation of a project determined? Is the recognition of scientific and technical development by the world community monitored?
- Kazakhstan is a young state, but behaves like an older country, more mature, in a good sense of the word. Kazakhstan is already focused on commercialization of scientific technologies, and this is commendable. In the United States, there is a lot of controversy about whether America today still remains the leader in commercialization of technology. My opinion: Asia is the leader in this field. Yes, they can take American ideas, but it is in their countries that they turn ideas into real products.
What can you say about the development of scientific research and scientific and technical thought in Kazakhstan?
- There are three steps from the scientific idea to the real product: invention, innovation and commercialization. I admire Kazakhstan, its people and scientists who is aware of the importance of these three steps for the development of economy.
President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said this many times, I was honored to be with him at several meetings, he understands the importance of investments in science and commercialization of technologies very well, which causes my admiration. The real driver of the economy of a modern country can be science and commercialization of its technologies. Science can come up with various interesting things, but they acquire real value only when they help a person solve problems or improve the quality of life.