Science ministry discusses Kazakhstan cooperation as 42.8 percent are under 25

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said First Vice Minister Gu Hyeok-chae met Kazakhstan's ambassador on the 4th to discuss technological cooperation combining the countries' respective resources, manufacturing capabilities and talent.

Gu's meeting with Asset Issenali, Kazakhstan's ambassador to South Korea, at Government Complex Sejong focused on areas for science and technology cooperation that draw on the two countries' respective national strengths.

Both sides welcomed the planned first Korea-Central Asia summit, scheduled to take place in Seoul in September, and emphasized the importance of scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries. At the meeting, they explored ways to combine each country's strengths in a bilateral scientific and technological partnership, according to the ministry's press release. The discussion paired Kazakhstan's critical minerals, energy resources and younger population with Korea's advanced manufacturing capabilities and its experience in fostering highly skilled science and technology talent.

According to the ministry, Kazakhstan has abundant critical minerals and energy resources, including oil, uranium and rare earths, which offer opportunities for bilateral science and technology cooperation in resources and energy. Kazakhstan's population stands at about 20.6 million, and 42.8 percent are younger than 25, supporting the ministry's expectation of expanded bilateral cooperation to develop future science and technology talent in both countries. The ministry said those resource, energy and demographic strengths make scientific and technological collaboration in energy and resource fields, as well as future-talent training, an area of mutual interest.

The officials also discussed a project now being considered to establish a science and technology institute in Almaty, Kazakhstan, based on the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, or KAIST, model. Ha Tae-wook, South Korea's consul general in Almaty, said he hoped the initiative would spread Korea's innovative education and research system widely and contribute to cultivating outstanding science and technology talent. Known as QAIST, the proposed institute is expected to combine Kazakhstan's resources and young future talent with Korea's advanced manufacturing capacity and experience in science and technology talent development.

The ministry said the institute would serve as a key cooperation base for the two countries, helping train science and technology talent capable of leading future bilateral cooperation. Gu said Korea's experience in advanced science, technology and talent development, which he described as driving its economic growth, could create substantial synergy with Kazakhstan's resources and talent. He said the first Korea-Central Asia summit should help bilateral scientific and technological cooperation advance a stage further, and asked Kazakhstan's government for continued interest and support.