2

3

«Nazarbayev University must become the intellectual innovation cluster»

The interactive lecture delivered by the Head of the State at Nazarbayev

University dated September 5, 2012

4

5

History of tHe University

The President of Kazakhstan in his 2006

annual address entitled «Strategy of

promoting Kazakhstan to the ranks of 50

most competitive nations of the world» first

proposed the establishment of a world class

international research university. Specifically,

President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed

that «in order to create a unique academic

environment in our capital-city, we have to

establish a world-class prestigious university».

The founding of such a university will ensure

a qualitative breakthrough in the training

of scientists, engineers and social scientists

to assists in the industrial innovation and

development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

To bring this to fruition, the Government of

the Republic of Kazakhstan issued Resolution

No.957 dated June 20, 2009, to establish a

non-profit joint-stock company «New University

of Astana», 100% owned by the government.

On September 4, 2009 a general meeting

was held with the participation of the President

N.A.Nazarbayev where direct assignments

were issued to launch the establishment of the

New University of Astana. «Creation of such

a new university is a crucial national project

which will exert large-scale systemic impact on

the development of our nation and many of

our citizens. I believe that the New University

must be positioned to become the national

brand by harmoniously combining national

identity, and the best international models of

education, science and research practice»

said N.Nazarbayev.

In an address to the people of Kazakhstan

in January 2010, President Nursultan

Nazarbayev emphasized the priority of

developing the national innovation system of

the country, Nazarbayev University being one

of its constituents. The President noted that

«within the framework of New University of

Astana, three new research centers shall be

established. The Center of Life Sciences will conduct joint research with the leading

global scientific centers in the fields of organ

transplantation, artificial heart and lungs,

stem cells and longevity. The Center for Energy Research will focus on renewable

energy, high-energy physics and technology.

The Interdisciplinary Instrumentation Center will become the hub of engineering

research, providing laboratories and design

offices».

In June 2010, JSC «New University of Astana”

was renamed as JSC «Nazarbayev University»

by Resolution of the Government of the

Republic of Kazakhstan No.532 dated June 7,

2010.

The President has signed a bill «On the status

of «Nazarbayev University», «Nazarbayev

Intellectual Schools» and «Nazarbayev Fund»

on 19th January 2011.

From the Annual Address of the President

of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan

Nazarbayev to the people of Kazakhstan,

January 27, 2012:

«Innovation and intellectual facilities must be

created around Nazarbayev University to

promote transfer and development of new

technologies».

From the interactive lecture of the President of

the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A.Nazarbayev

«Kazakhstan on its way to the society of

knowledge», September 5, 2012:

«Nazarbayev University must become the

innovative intellectual cluster. The construction

of such elements of innovation infrastructure

as an industrial park, a business incubator, a

centre of commercialization and technology

transfer, a venture capital funds should be

started».

2006

2009

2009

2010

2010

2011

2012

June 20

September 4

January

June

January 19

September 5

2012January 27

6

«Nazarbayev UNiversity research aNd iNNovatioN system» private iNstitUtioN (hereiNafter – NUris) was established by

reorganizing and renaming «Center for Energy Research» private institution by the decision of autonomous organization

of education «Nazarbayev University» Executive Council dated September 25, 2012. The founder of the NURIS is the

autonomous organization of education «Nazarbayev University».

vision Establishment of Nazarbayev University as a world-class research university through development of its scientific base and

the system of research and innovation support

Mission 1Establishment of world-class national research centers in energy and interdisciplinary sciences

Mission 2 Development of highly qualified young national scientific manpower successfully combining teaching and innovation

activities

Mission 3 Сreation and functioning of an effective university system of research and innovation support facilitating the full realization of

scientific research and commercialization of their results

General inforMation

7

Aim: Developing the Center for Energy Research and

Interdisciplinary Instrumental Center on the model of

development of US national laboratories.

Objectives: 1. Analysing and forecasting issues and demands in

priority research fields of NURIS and sectors of economy

with the purpose of forming portfolio of relevant and

innovative projects and programs.

2. Developing and implementing research and scientific-

technical programs and projects of social and economic

significance in corresponding areas of NURIS activity,

including those involving foreign scholars and experts, scholars from Kazakhstan who live abroad as well as leading

international research centers; joint projects with national companies and large enterprises.

3. Evaluating the commercialization potential of research and scientific-technical works with the purpose of forming a portfolio

of perspective innovative projects.

1. Conducting relevant research

2. Improving the research support system

3. Support for teaching and research laboratories (material and technical base, services)

4. Development of Nazarbayev University innovative and intellectual cluster

5. Development of human resources and scientific potential

1. Conducting relevant research

2. Improving the research support system

Aim: Rendering administrative, organizational and technical support to

scholars in the process of preparation and practical implementation of

research projects on high level of quality.

Objectives: 1. Organizing an independent external evaluation of research pro-

posals and projects funded from internal and external sources;

2. Ensuring compliance of scientific works with the research ethics and

norms (Research Ethics Committee);

3. Full support of projects, including planning, administration, mo-

nitoring, financial management of research projects, assisting in

purchase of goods, works and services for conducting research;

4. Assisting in attracting external funding and scholarships for financing

research projects and programs.

COMMITTEES OF RESEARCH

COUNCIL

RESEARCH COUNCIL

CENTRAL RESEARCH

OFFICE

nUris areas of Priority (2013-2020)

8

3. Support for teaching and research laboratories (material and technical base, services)

Aim 1: Optimizing the procedures related to procurement and delivery

of goods for teaching and research purposes.

Objectives:1. Reducing the procurement time and optimizing expenses on

their purchase from local and foreign suppliers;

2. Optimizing and speeding-up procedures of customs clearance

when importing research equipment and materials for research

purposes of the University;

3. Optimizing internal procedures related to purchase of goods.

Aim 2: Providing professional engineering and technical services for

teaching and research laboratories.

Objectives: 1. Establishing highly professional engineering and technical service;

2. Establishing metrological service;

3. Introducing modern electronic system of monitoring equipment, teaching and research laboratories, and stores;

4. Improving the system of inventory of teaching and research equipment;

5. Ensuring equipment maintenance.

4. Development of Nazarbayev University innovative and intellectual cluster

Aim 1: Creating innovative and intellectual cluster (hereinafter referred to as IIC) of Nazarbayev University.

Objectives: 1. Establishing basic elements of the IIC – Commercialization Office, Prototyping Center, Business Incubator, Technopark,

Science Park, Department of Contract Research and Engineering;

2. Conducting evaluation of patentability and market perspective (will be conducted by the external expert organizations);

3. Attracting business, including international business, to creating research departments, prototype production and high

technology companies on the industrial field of the University;

4. Creating startup companies;

5. Awarding grants for commercialization;

6. Attracting external funding for the purposes of commercialization;

7. Realizing experimental and pilot production of industrial prototypes;

8. Developing new technologies, designing new products and solving calculation tasks under industry assignments.

Aim 2: Motivating research staff to commercialize results of scientific research.

Objectives: 1. Developing a system of motivating research staff to commercialize results of scientific research according to the principle of

«3Р: Publications, Patents, Products» by awarding prizes for each of the indicated components;

2. Providing a gradual translation of ideas from laboratory research form to practical application (patents and products/

prototypes);

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Aim: Establishing the effective system of training

national scientific personnel, professional

development, selecting and attracting leading

local and foreign scholars.

Objectives: 1. Developing and implementing joint programs

with foreign partners with the purpose of training

MSs, PhDs and organizing scientific internships;

2. Developing staff qualifications and skills

through organizing advanced training in

accordance with the main and prospective

directions of NURIS activity;

3. Developing special program of attracting

world-renowned foreign scientists (including our

former compatriots) for the implementation of

anchor scientific projects;

4. Establishing NURIS communication and corporate development service.

3. Assisting in creating startups and spinoffs for completing elements of innovative and intellectual cluster.

5. Development of human resources and scientific potential

10

The new organizational structure of NURIS will facilitate the successful implementation of its priority objectives.

The NURIS Supervisory board will include representatives of the administration of the University, schools and the University

research centers, representatives of international partners, prominent scientists, representatives of the business community and

corporate sector.

The supervisory board is responsible for strategic management of the organization and making important decisions related

to NURIS activity.

General Director

Supervisory Board

Inspector

Advisor

youth council

chief Business Development

Officer

chief Operating Officer

center for Energy Research

Department of Accounting

Department of Economic Planning &

Analysis

Department of Procurement &

Logistics

Сentral Research Office

commerciali-zation Office

Business Incubator

Prototyping center

Technopark

Interdisciplinary Instrumental

center

Secretariat

HR Department

Legal Department

Department of corporate Development & Marketing

Secretariat of Supervisory Board

Scientific & Technical Council

Academic Secretary

Laboratory Director

(Teaching Laboratories)

Laboratory center of UcL

foundation

Laboratory center of School of Engeneering

Laboratory center of School

of Science & Technology

chief Engineer

Engineering & Technical Service

Managing Director

Department of contract

Research & Engineering

Science Park

orGaniZational strUCtUre of nUris

11

researCH at nUris

The Center for Energy Research and Interdisciplinary Instrumental Center are the scientific research base of the NURIS.

The Center for Energy Research conduct fundamental and applied research in the field of renewable power generation

technologies, energy supply, high-energy physics and techniques, numerical modeling of country energy balance and its

influence on environment and climate.

Research projects in the fields of chemistry, biology, biotechnology, biophysics, biomedicine, bioinformatics and nanotechnology

are implemented at Interdisciplinary Instrumental Center.

NURIS research staff is currently working on 28 research projects (as of November 1, 2012).

DePartMent of reneWaBle enerGy

Increasing annual

energy demand and

the depletion of fossil

fuel reserves forces

the world community

to search for

alternative energy

sources. Renewable

energy technologies

convert solar

radiation energy, biomass energy, hydro and geothermal

energy into electrical energy and heat. The researchers of

the Department of Renewable Energy perform research in

the area of renewable energy with the goal of adaptation of

the alternative energy technologies to the local climatic and

economic conditions. The work is aimed to decrease cost,

increase the conversion efficiencies and reliability by better

understanding of the physical processes and applying new

materials and technologies.

NURIS Researchers

jointly with ASATREM

and E4SMA (Italy)

experts are developing

energy systems model

of the Republic of

Kazakhstan using TIMES

tool (The Integrated

MARKAL EFOM System),

which is the last generation of MARKAL model . TIMES is an

instrument of technical-economic modeling of the energy

system, which allows to conduct scenario analysis of the

development of the energy system for a long period. The

model represents the existing energy system of Kazakhstan

with high level of detalization, possible future technologies

and alternative types of fuels. The multiregional model of

Caspian countries is being developed. The Caspian region

model will allow to carry out quantitative analysis of the

energy systems individually and jointly.

analysis anD siMUlation of

PoWer systeMs

12

siMUlation MoDelinG researCH for

DeveloPMent of environMentally

Clean Coal teCHnoloGy for

ekiBastUZ Coal CoMBUstion on tHe

Basis of Coal GasifiCation

Coal based electricity and

heat generation is one of the

oldest and most ecologically

destructive ways of power

generation. However, new

technologies such as gasi-

fication can provide better

efficiencies and are less harmful with even high Ash content

and lower coal grades. Integrated Gasification Combined

Cycle (IGCC) technology substantially decreases the

emission of NOx, SOx and carbon particulates. It is proposed

to model the gasification of Ekibastuz coal using two types

of simulation packages. The first one would provide initial

chemical data such as mass and energy balance of the

process, and the second one would model the multiflow of

the fluid.

reneWaBle enerGy anD sMart GriDs

Researchers study and apply modern technologies for

production and efficient consumption of environmentally

friendly energy. Interface and coordination of different types

of power supplies,

such as solar, wind

and hydro energy is

based on intelligent

control. Designed

systems, supplied by

intelligent (‘smart’)

facilities, provide us

with full information

about current flowing

processes and make

decisions for enhancement of the energy efficiency and

safety. In general, the main efforts are focused on power

supply of remote agricultural lands and development of

technologies of smart houses.

In modern computational fluid dynamics there is a big interest

in the fundamental mechanism of viscoelastic turbulence,

which leads to the drag reduction phenomenon. The

development of numerical method of modeling viscoelastic

flow is quite challenging because understanding of polymer

physics is restricted to mechanical models. Development of

such effective numerical method will make it possible for

detailed understanding of polymer-turbulence dynamical

interactions and enable to have a clear picture of mechanism

of polymer-turbulence energy transfers.

BUilDinG PHotoniC Crystals for

enerGy aPPliCations

We aim to understand,

build and characterize

high quality non-close

packed photonic

colloidal crystals to

use in solar energy

applications. We

combine theory and

experiment to understand photonic properties of periodically

assembled nanomaterials. We use this knowledge to create

thin films of photonic crystals able to concentrate and channel

incident solar light making solar cells more efficient. We

work to control the self-assembly of nanostructures to create

materials with photonic properties we need, to manipulate

the photons into the energy.

DeveloPinG of Gan Materials for

oPtoeleCtroniC DeviCes

GaN materials play an

increasingly important

role in the world

manufacturing of LEDs

– light emitting diodes.

Science of making LEDs

grade GaN thin films

require full toolbox of

contemporary material

science. We are MUltisCale CoMPUter MoDelinG of

visCoelastiC flUiDs

13

working to establish laboratory for both fundamental and

practical studies in thin films technology for LED GaN based

fabrication and characterization. We collaborate with world

class experienced researchers from the Berkeley National

Laboratory to lead the plasma physics research into the

deep understanding of making of advanced materials.

DeteCtion of PHase transition

in refraCtory alloys By Means of

nanoseConD laser aCoUstiCs

The Laser-based Materials Research Laboratory of

Nazarbayev University performs research on developing new

advanced non-destructive optical techniques for materials

characterization. In

particular, a new

method is being

developed for

localized generation

and detection of

phase transition

on the surface of

refractory alloys by

means of nanosecond

laser ultrasonics coupled with ultrasensitive two-wave mixing

photorefractive interferometry. This laser-based ultrasonic

method will facilitate determination of critical thermophysical

properties of post-irradiated nuclear fuels safely (due to

laser interaction with radioactive fuel remotely positioned

from the operator), quickly (on nanosecond time scale),

nondestructively (due to only surface irradiation) and with

high spatial resolution (due to localized interaction of laser

irradiation with material).

For decades, gold

mining industries

have been applying

cyanidation method

for the gold extraction,

despite toxic nature of

cyanide ions involved

nUClear reaCtions resonanCes

at loW enerGies

NURIS researchers

in collaboration with

Cyclotron Institute,

Texas A&M University,

are working to

investigate the α+13C

resonant elastic

scattering using the

relatively novel Thick

Target Inverse Kine-

matics method. These measurements should provide

continuous (in α particle energy) data down to ~1MeV

c.m. energies at different angles including 1800 c.m. It is

worthwhile to use contemporary experimental methods

and analyses for future multiple applications in Astana and

allow physicists to participate in the exciting global efforts to

understand the Universe.

sMarter loCoMotion UsinG HyBriD

leGGeD anD WHeeleD roBots

Legged robots

have significant

advantages over

wheeled robots to

navigate uneven

terrains, which

are very common

in disaster relief

zones. On the

other hand, wheeled robots move much faster in human

structured environments such as roads and in buildings.

NURIS robotics researchers are working on a new hybrid

quadruped robot capable of both walking using the legs

as well as moving like a mobile robot using the wheels.

The robot gathers data from advanced sensors such as

LIDARs, accelerometers, gyroscopes, GPS and cameras.

It processes these data using machine learning algorithms

to decide the most effective navigation strategy. Once the

toWarDs environMentally frienDly

anD eConoMiCally viaBle

GolD leaCHinG ProCess

in this method. The current research is aimed to find an

alternative leaching agent and develop technology that will

be environmentally friendly and economically viable.

14

project is finished, researchers believe that their work will

have significant impact on emergency robotics.

flexiBle roBots for MeDiCal

insPeCtion

Flexible robots consisting of

high number of joints are

capable of inspecting human

body cavities in a minimally

invasive way. Besides the

mechanical complexity of

these robots, one of the other

fundamental problems with

the flexible robot manipulators is the control of these robots.

NURIS researchers note that it becomes harder to control

the robot with the increasing degrees of freedom and the

presence of dynamical obstacles in the body cavities.

Current research focuses on developing motion planning

algorithms in cluttered environment with dynamic obstacles

using 2D redundant manipulator. Investigators presume that

their research will contribute to the development of more

sophisticated medical inspection robots.

sUrveillanCe in HarsH CliMate

ConDitions

Kazakhstan is a vast country with very harsh climate

conditions, temperatures reaching minus 40 degrees Celsius

during winters. This makes human surveillance very hard.

Surveillance of remote areas such as borders with mobile

ground and air vehicles is one possible solution for such a

problem. One of the most

important components of

these robotic systems is the

platform, where the visual

sensors are attached. NURIS

researchers are hoping to

solve this problem. They are

working on the design and

implementation of a light-

weight sensor rich pan-tilt

platform, which is stabilized

using inertial measurement sensors. Besides the design of

the device, researchers are also working on developing

algorithms to detect and track living and non-living objects.

relativistiC BeaM-PlasMa

instaBilities

We study the interaction of relativistic beams and the hot

plasma. Such systems are ubiquitous in laboratory or space

plasmas. As a necessary step towards better understanding

of physics of these systems one should consider the full

spectrum of unstable modes in the presence of beams

within the plasma background. Special emphasis is placed

on calculation of growth rates for unstable modes that

propagate obliquely to the beam in the framework of a fully

kinetic approach.

Both oil and gas

are found in porous

and permeable

reservoir rocks and

it is important to

know the structure

of such media

before extracting the oil. Researchers from computer science

department at NURIS develop new methods of extracting

topological information from such data (sometimes containing

thousands of tunes and voids). Topological methods provide

quantitative information about the object, allowing to reveal

its important and hidden features. Moreover the topological

information is invariant under the deformations of the object,

thus allowing to compare geometrically different objects.

This research is conducted in collaboration with scientists

from LBLN, Berkeley, USA and Institute of Mathematics SB

RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.

UnDerstanDinG tHe strUCtUre of

PoroUs MeDia

Protein`s ConforMational

strUCtUre PreDiCtion

Problem of prediction of protein structure from its amino

acid sequence is one of the central problems of modern

computational biology. Knowledge of high-precision three-

dimensional structure of proteins and other biological

macromolecules is the key to understanding their function in

the body and opens up broad prospects for the regulation

15

With the rapid development

of information technologies,

there is more and more

information available on the

Internet. Often a particular

user is interested only in a

small portion of it. This requires search and recommender

systems to be smart enough to provide user with relevant

information and do it efficiently. This project studies the

problem of information recommendation and retrieval. It

Nazarbayev University

researchers are

developing algoritms

for quantitative

3D visualization of

experiments in fluid

dynamics. Such

experiments are vital for

investigation of hydro-

and aerodynamics of

flying and floating objects. Sophisticated algorithms allows

us to understand the insights of turbulence and other physical

phenomena of the moving media. Experimental findings also

allows us to create thorough mathematical interpretation of

the physical world. This research is performed in collaboration

with Institute of Thermophysics in Novosibirsk, Russia and

is part of Nazarbayev University program that fosters the

partnerships with CIS scientists.

3D floW visUaliZation in astana

internet Data aCCUMUlation anD

ProCessinG CoMPlex

The proposed project is dedicated to the development

of a prototype of an intellectual voice system with an

interactive dialog mode of communicating with users in

the state language for call-centers, information desks and

dispatching services. Within the scope of the project it is

planned to develop the mathematical model and software

for the prototype of an intellectual voice system (IVoS) in a

“command-and-control” fashion with a limited dictionary of

the commands (up to 100).This includes the development of

the algorithms of speaker independent speech recognition

and synthesis of words and phrases in Kazakh as well as

the collection and processing of a phone speech signals in

state language for training and testing the system. It is worth

mentioning that the proposed system principally differs from

current interactive systems, where the interaction with users

is done via keyboard control of voice menu. The designed

prototype can be used in applications such as voice dialing,

call distribution, dictionary lookups, banking transaction

approvals, etc.

DeveloPMent of a PrototyPe of an

intelleCtUal voiCe systeM WitH

an interaCtive DialoG MoDe

in tHe state lanGUaGe

of these functions, which

in the final analysis, can

be used in medicine for

the treatment of complex

diseases. Methods

of machine learning,

optimization and pattern

recognition allow us to

find new approaches

and go closer to understanding the structure of biological

macromolecules.

aims at advancing state of the art algorithms and discovering

novel ones, researching and potentially discovering new

applications, where the novel algorithms can be applied.

neW MetHoDs of reverse

vaCCinoloGy

Every year more than 5

million people are infected

with seasonal influenza;

more than 70% of human

population are carriers

of Herpesvirus infection.

Our researchers from

Immunology Laboratory

aim to create vaccines

against these two groups

of pathogens using a novel approach of reverse vaccinology.

By this approach researchers use the information from

bioinformatics databases in order to select effective vaccine

16

There is a growing research interest in organic materials

with second order NLO properties for possible applications

in optoelectronic and photonic devices. Traditionally, the

materials of choice have been based on inorganic systems.

The use of organic materials for NLO applications has

emerged in the mid 1970s, and today, some of the most

successful organic systems are used in commercial devices.

Organic NLO molecules have advantages over inorganic

ones such as fast response time and optimization of optical

properties at the molecular and crystalline level through

To date, medical chemistry

creates drugs with

predetermined structure

and physiological activity,

using a new principle –

a rational drug design.

There are superbugs,

which have extremely

high resistance to

antibiotics. They include,

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which is a causative agent

of many infections and even death cases. We use information

about the structure of the bacteria and its infection routes.

Meanwhile, we have developed several chemically modified

compounds that block the pores caused by microbial toxins

and it will help preventing infection and further spread within

the body.

rational DesiGn of neW CHeMiCal

sUBstanCes tHat BloCks Pores

in a Cell MeMBrane

DesiGn anD syntHesis of orGaniC

nonlinear oPtiCal Materials

aPPlyinG aCHieveMents of

Biosensor teCHnoloGy

Tuberculosis is one of the world's deadliest infectious di-

seases, taking its toll in many countries, including Kazakhstan.

The research efforts of the Laboratory of biosensors and

bioinstrumentation

are focused on

applying biosensing

technologies to bring

new solutions to the

problem of effective

diagnosis of TB.

Design of an optical

biosensor based

on DNA molecules,

magnetic nanobeads

and semiconductor nanocrystals for the on-site and rapid

detection of TB is one of the projects currently underway in

the Laboratory. The research is of interdisciplinary nature,

where nanotechnology meets biology to serve to the cause of

stopping TB. This principle is also applicable for diagnosing

other infectious diseases as well as detecting early stages of

malignancy development.

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is one of the most pressing

candidates with improved safety and effectiveness profile.

Another important area of research is cancer-associated

infections and cancer immunology. We are working

on identifying immunological markers for better cancer

diagnostics and therapy. Collaborations have been

established with Sanford-Burnham Medical Research

Institute (Sand Diego, USA), Institute for Microbiology and

Virology (Kiev, Ukraine), Harvard Medical School (USA) and

Moscow State University (Russia).

chemical modification.

Porphyrin is one of the

widely investigated

NLO material and have

strong nonlinear-optical

characteristics. They are

thermally and chemically

stable. The structure and

chemical reactivity of

porphyrins make them flexible and give opportunity to adjust

their chemical, physical and optoelectronic parameters.

These properties make porphyrin a unique substance for

the preparation of NLO materials. The researchers of the

department of chemistry at “NURIS” are planning to develop

a new class of organic nonlinear optical (NLO) materials that

have the potential to meet long term demands of optical

information processing technologies by using porphyrin.

neW vessels for oUr Heart

17

problems of modern

radiology and angiology.

As a consequence, CTO

can develop coronary

artery disease. Coronary

artery disease mainly

affects the heart and

mesentery, but there are

cases when the congestion

also occurs in the upper

limbs. In such patients this

may cause pain, tissue necrosis formation, gangrene at the

tips of fingers. Today, scientists of NURIS are developing

a new drug, based on growth factors of human stem cells.

With the introduction of this drug into the body, the heart will,

quite literally, start to form new blood vessels that bypass

diseased coronary vessels and deliver to the heart muscle

enough blood which will solve the problem of chronic heart

failure, thus avoiding surgery.

18

Central researCH offiCe

Research Council is the University body responsible for strategic planning and research management in NU Schools and

research centers and makes decisions on the issues of research policy and research activities of the University and its

organizations.

The Research Council is composed of:

Rector, Provost, Vice-Provost for Research, heads of the University research centers, deans and vice-deans for research of the

University Schools, and other officials from University and its organizations.

The Research Council is responsible for the following:

- Formulation and implementation of research policies;

- Management of University research grants;

- Oversight of issues concerning intellectual property rights and technology transfer;

- Oversight of issues relating to maintenance and support of research facilities;

- Encouraging and developing strategies for integration of research and teaching at the University.

The Committees of the Research Council:

1) Allocations Committees;

2) Intellectual Property Committee;

3) Research Equipment Committee;

4) Research Ethics Committee;

5) Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

researCH CoUnCil

The Central Research Office was set up by the decision of the Executive Council of the Nazarbayev University as of

December 28, 2011 in accordance with the recommendations of the strategic partners to create and develop systems of

research management, grants administration and external peer review as well as infrastructure to support research activities

of Nazarbayev University faculty members.

The general system of promoting research at the University is presented in the form of Research Pipeline.

Faculty members are eligible (on competitive basis) to receive start-up grants (seed grants) from the University for conducting

scientific research as well as for preparation/refinement of research proposals for applying to more significant in scope

external funding.

The funding for start-up grants is provided by the Corporative Fund «Fund of Social Development».

External funding of the University research projects is mainly provided through the State budget program 055 «Scientific

and/or Scientific-Technical Activity», and grants and program-target funding of the Ministry of Education and Science of

the Republic of Kazakhstan.

19

researCH PiPeline

Proposalssubmission

Peer review is conducted by ORAU

(USA)Approval of funding

Pre-award andpost-award

management services

Idea formulation Peer review NU Research

CouncilCentral Research

Office

FinancingInternal seedgrants (up to20 000 USD)

Seed grant project

Fullproposal

State assignments,Ministry grants,

other funding

All research proposals, except for seed grant projects, undergo an external evaluation (peer review) results of which are

considered by the Research Council. Peer review is conducted by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU is the

consortium of over 100 leading research universities of the USA (with an experts base of more than 3500 reviewers). The

University concluded an agreement on cooperation with ORAU. The main goal of conducting peer review of projects with

the assistance of the external independent organization is to ensure quality of scientific projects and forming high scientific

reputation of the University.

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sUPPort for teaCHinG anD researCH laBoratories (Material anD teCHniCal Base, serviCes)

For conducting successful scientific activity it is necessary to provide timely procurement of research equipment and materials,

improve the work of engineering and technical service for supporting academic and scientific laboratories and equipment.

These functions are performed by the Department of Procurement and Logistics jointly with Laboratory centers.

Main objectives of the Department of Procurement and Logistics are:

- planning annual procurement of goods, works, services in accordance with the budget of NURIS;

- organizing procurement for NURIS;

- providing NURIS laboratories, including laboratories of schools of the University, with the necessary laboratory equipment,

laboratory furniture, consumables, etc.

- ensuring suppliers’ compliance with deadlines and volume of supply of goods, works, and services;

- developing external and internal standard regulations for procurement goods, works, and services.

Laboratory learning centers are

devoted to training students in

multiple disciplines:

Centre for Preparatory Studies

(UCL Foundation) trains students

according to basic higher

educational institution program

with language courses in three

disciplines:

- biology;

- chemistry;

- physics.

School of Science and

Technology provides more

extended training to students in

the following disciplines:

- biology;

- chemistry;

- physics;

- robotics.

School of Engineering.

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22

DeveloPMent of naZarBayev University innovative anD intelleCtUal ClUster

Creating innovative and intellectual cluster is the main stage in the process of integration of education, science and

innovation at the Nazarbayev University which will promote the establishment of the University as a research university

of international standard. The cluster must provide facilities for scientists and entrepreneurs, and also promote introduction of

scientific research results into the market. The cluster serves to develop science-driven and high technology companies around

the Nazarbayev University; to create facilities for scientists, attract investments in new technology research at the Nazarbayev

University; develop engineering potential in Kazakhstan; transfer and commercialization of latest technology; to create new

jobs for the Nazarbayev University alumni.

Commercialization Office will be the most important element of the innovative cluster as it will work regularly with scientists

and innovators, perform functions of «the first stop shop» for a scientist and providing all necessary information for him about

the existing possibilities and resources for commercialization at the University.

Main objectives of the Office are:

1) Assistance in completing and collecting applications on commercialization of technology;

2) Evaluation of patentability and market perspectives that will be conducted by the independent external expert orga-

nization;

3) Services on obtaining intellectual property protection documents

a. Patenting in Kazakhstan and foreign patent organizations;

b. Possibility of outsourcing to international patent broker.

4) Providing scholarships for commercialization;

5) Providing distribution of income from the exercise of rights for the intellectual property in accordance with the Policy of the

Nazarbayev University Executive Council;

6) Attracting external funding for the purposes of commercialization.

The Commercialization Office will be actively searching and evaluating projects with high patentability and high potential of

market success and will provide corresponding funding of scholarships for commercialization.

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CoMMerCialiZation PiPeline

Selecting projects

Pilot production,

samples

Services of the Commercialization Office

Techno-logical

evaluation

PatentingMarketing,

business planning, startup

companies

Prototyping Center Business Incubator

Commercial industrial

production

Licensing to the

existing businesses

Market, making a

profit

Technopark

Providing funding for patenting, experimental production, business incubating and marketing, co-funding contract

research, venture capital financing

Prototyping CenterThe Prototyping Center will be built for experimental and pilot production of industrial standards, and testing new

technologies.

Main objectives of the Prototyping Center:

1) Prototyping and experimental production;

2) Design, project modeling;

3) Engineering bureau;

4) Workroom, warehouse;

5) Engineering and service support;

6) Project support services.

Business incubatorA business incubator will be created at the Commercialization Office.

Main objectives of the business incubator:

1) Business incubating services:

- Accounting, legal, economic, information, marketing support for projects, translation services and services of other outside

agencies;

2) Developing business plan, identifying ways of commercializing;

3) Assisting in creating startup company or licensing by providing legal support;

4) Attracting investors and funding, including venture capital financing;

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In the business incubator, companies will be provided with the services of technological business incubating, during which

ideas are formalized, the project business plan is drilled down, necessary stages of the R&D are implemented to develop

prototypes or technologies. The incubator will have all the necessary services for the work of small companies (narrowly

focused specialists in the field of law, accounting, foreign languages, intellectual property protection, etc.). Time period of the

company to be held in the business incubator is identified individually, usually from 1 to 3 years. Then the project passes to the

next stage of enterprise establishment and development and is transferred to in the Technopark. After the termination of the

period of being in the Technopark, successful companies will continue into completely free floating , which means the release

of project from Technopark, for example, placement at the industrial space of the Nazarbayev University. The less successful

companies will just leave Incubator/Technopark and are closed.

Technopark Effective work of the Technopark is important for industrial commercial production and arrangement of new startup companies

that are being created.

Main objectives of the Technopark:

1) Providing spaces for industrial and commercial production, new companies created as a result of commercializing projects

and/or small and medium business enterprises;

- Complex of buildings on the directions of scientific specialization (bio-, IT, industry, etc.);

Science Pa

rk

ExPO 2017

25

2) Business support services (procurement, accounting and other services, in case of interest from the startup company);

3) Providing infrastructure (utilities, communications, logistics);

For the effective work of the Technopark and filling it with resident companies it is necessary to examine in detail the motivating

factors:

- Tax benefits and preferences in customs procedures (FEZ);

- Low payment rates for the rent of administrative and productive spaces for establishing startup companies;

- Utilities expenses partially subsidized by the managing company (water supply, electricity, heating);

- Improved transport and information infrastructure (entrance routs, warehouse spaces, broadband wireless access);

- Providing social infrastructure promoting informal communication and comfortable life of residents (accommodation, sports

buildings, and leisure centers).

NURIS is going to launch the following pilot projects of big social and economic effect:

1. Renewable power generation for rural areasA model of cross functional autonomous hybrid wind and solar systems of energy and water supply for farming and distant-

pasture cattle breeding that includes integrated systems of hydrostorage of renewable power generation. It will enable to

provide cumulative effect in the development of distant-pasture cattle breeding, water supply systems of hothouse facility and

enterprises of processing agricultural products.

2. Energy AuditWithin the project energy supply methods in buildings and energy effectiveness of technological cycles in production are

examined. It will lead to optimization of energy recourses consumption, identification of sources of irrational energy usage

and energy loss.

3. Creating a laboratory on providing services of peptide synthesis and engineering Peptide synthesis is a new branch of biotechnology in Kazakhstan. Establishing a laboratory will enable not only to meet

demand in synthetic peptides, but also to produce peptide containing products as synthetic antibiotics, vaccines, colourants

and raw materials for food industry.

Science Park

Science Park will be hi-tech industrial site of the University.

Main objectives of the Science Park:

1) Providing territories for rent (50 hectares on the side of the Street Turan) next to the University for arranging R&D Offices of

major national and international companies;

2) Providing all the necessary technical and social infrastructure: utility services, communication (with the assistance of Akimat

of Astana city), social facilities (housing, etc.);

3) Providing the Special Economic Zone regime;

4) Providing access to human and intellectual resources (University, students, faculty, and researchers).

Department of Contract Research and Engineering Department of Contract Research and Engineering (hereinafter referred to as DCRE) in the framework of establishing the

Science Park must play important role in establishing and developing innovative and intellectual cluster of Nazarbayev

University.

DCRE objectives:

1. Attracting contract research;

2. Developing engineering competences in the fields of instrument and mechanical engineering, material engineering,

chemical technology, etc.;

3. Developing new technologies, designing new products and solving calculation tasks under industry assignment;

4. Supporting projects on introducing new developments into industry;

5. Encouraging faculty, researchers and students of the Nazarbayev University to solve practical problems of industry.

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HUMan resoUrCes anD sCientifiC Potential of nUris

To achieve stated objectives and goals NURIS attaches special importance to enhancing its human recourses potential.

Currently NURIS employs 152 people, including 16 doctors, candidates of science and PhDs., 45 masters, more than half

of whom are the graduates of the Presidential program “Bolashak”. The average age of the employees is 35.

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NURIS researchers have publications in the following scientific journals:

• Energy for Sustainable Development

• Infectious Agents and Cancer

• Journal of Clinical Case Reports

• Sensors and Transducers

• Tuberculosis

• Journal of Food Protection

• Journal of Radiation Measurements

• PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases

• Journal of the American Chemical Society

• Journal of Nanophotonics

• Applied Spectroscopy

• SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing

• The Astrophysical Journal

• Physics of Plasmas

• Lecture Notes in Mathematics

• Computer Graphics Forum

• Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

PUBliCations of nUris

NURIS in partnership with Chevron company launched a program of supporting young scientists. The following projects

received funding within the program:

• Building a diffractometer for optimization of photonic crystal analysis (Ainur Koshkinbayeva)• Design and development of three-phase DC/AC inverter with advanced power stage utilizing SiC MOSFETs converting

energy from solar cells for submarine robot (Zhanat Kappassov, Yerbolat Khassanov)• Quantifying water circulation in Burabay National Park: towards an evaluation of potential solutions to limit lake

shallowing (Vadim Yapiyev, Marzhan Kabiyeva)• New polyamide based material for oil-based drilling fluids (Bahytjan Baptaev, Zhandos Tauanov)• On components for visual modeling of energetic simulators (Kairat Aitpayev)• Multifunctional Self -assembled Monodisperse Colloidal Magnetic Nanoparticles (Fe

3O

4): Design, Synthesis and

Characterization (Assel Ryspayeva)• Simulation modeling research for development of environmentally clean coal technology for Ekibastuz coal combustion

(Diyar Tokmurzin, Arman Sharafudinov)• Anemometer with communication via radio with passthrough data transfer, for the needs of wind energy

(Vladimir Novokhatskiy)• Hybrid Energy Generation with Pumped Hydro Storage (Daniyar Seitenov, Akmaral Bermukhambetova, Albina Khakimova)• Computational Design of nanoscale GHz Phononic Crystals by Finite Element Modeling (Almas Rakhymzhanov)• Development of the wear resistant hard metallic coating by Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD) sputtering technique

(Rustem Bolat)•Combined Autonomous Solar Thermal Heater (Sarsenbek Hazken, Damir Aidarkhanov)

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oUr Partners

29

notes

30

notes

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www.nu.edu.kze-mail: nuris@nu.edu.kztel.: +7 (7172) 70 60 52

Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave, block 9

www.nu.edu.kz

e-mail: nuris@nu.edu.kz

tel.: +7 (7172) 70 60 52

Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave, block 9