The History of Science in Kazakhstan
The emergence of science in Kazakhstan began in the early XX century, when Veterinary Station of Uralsk (1897), Seed Station of Krasnovodopadsk (1909) was created. Later Agricultural Experimental Station of Uralsk (1914), Sanitary bacteriological Institute of Alma-Ata (1925) was added to them.By the 1940 -s, 12 universities, 11 research and engineering technology organizations, 2 Design Institutes, 2 Agricultural Experimental Stations, 6 factories research and design units, a botanical garden and zoological park in the city of Alma-Ata operated in the country.
These research organizations mainly dealt with development of agriculture and health care services. A rapid rise of the industrious forces of the Republic demanded a more intensive research on issues and other sectors of the national economy and the introduction of their results. With regard to this, Kazakh base of Academy of Sciences of the USSR was formed in 1932, and had two branches - zoological and botanical; in 1938, it was transformed into the Kazakh branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, which served 100 researchers, including Among the 3 doctors and 14 candidates of science before the World War II.
During the years of war, in the structure of the division 13 research institutes was formed and its employees conducted the preparations for the organization of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR. During this period of the development of science academics V.A. Obruchev, S.I. Vavilov, I.P. Bardin, V.L. Komarov, I.F. Grigoriev provided great help to Kazakhstani scientists.
On May 31, 1946 the legislative organs of the Republic adopted ordinance to establish the “Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR”. The first structure of Academy of Sciences was approved, and included prominent figures of science, technology and culture of Kazakhstan, academics M.O. Auezov, A.B. Bekturov, I.G. Galuzo, M.I. Goryayev, A.K. Zhubanov, N.G. Kassin, S.K. Kenesbaev, N.V. Pavlov, M.P. Rusakov, K.I. Satpayev, N. T. Sauranbaev, G.A. Tihov, V.G. Fesenkov, S.V. Yushkov..
K.I. Satpayev was elected as the first President of the Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, who in the same year became a full member of Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
The academy has been given the task to focus the activities of scientific institutions on critical issues of science, explore the natural resources of the country and promote their sustainable use, develop challenges of history and national culture, and train scientists.
In the period up to 1980, development of economy in Kazakhstan has had a higher rate than in the whole Union. This process was accompanied by an intensive scientific and technological progress. Over the years, teams of scientists and specialists of Kazakhstani enterprises were awarded with the Lenin and State prizes for the development and implementation of science and technology.
During those years, in the Republic there had been created a number of new research and design organizations, including the six institutes of the Academy of Sciences. By the 1980-s, there were 140 academic institutions in Kazakhstan in which 21.1 thousands of people were employed. Main scientific forces were concentrated in the Academy of Sciences - 31 academic institutions, among them 24 scientific-research institute. The scientists of the Academy of Sciences conducted research practically on all major areas of economy and science.
Major scientific forces were also in 55 post-secondary educational establishments of Ministry of Higher and secondary education, 13 academic institutions of the Ministry of Public Health, 14 research institutes of the East Branch of VASKHNIL, 3 NGOs of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic. In addition, the applied research was conducted in 40 branches and offices of the Research institutes of the Union located in Kazakhstan.
In the 1990's., there were 279 research institutions, including branches and independent laboratories of research institutes and universities of Union subordination in Kazakhstan. The number of workers of the main scientific and technical activities constituted of 50,6 thousands people.
The crisis in the economy and the associated reduction in funding for science from the State budget, as well as a drastic decrease in orders for the production of science and technology products have led to a significant reduction in the volume of R&D and the number of employees in science. Compared to 1990, by 2000 the number of employees engaged in scientific and technical activity, decreased by the factor of 3, and the costs of R&D - by the factor of 6,6 times. During this period, the State paid special attention to the preservation of the main part of the staff potential of science - the doctors and candidates of science. This not only saved the body of doctors of sciences, but also increased their number. However, the number of candidates of sciences involved in the scientific and technical activity, decreased by the factor of 2. Despite economic constraints, during this period, 29 public research organizations were re-created.
With the improvement of the economy since2000, funding for science is carried out in the planned volumes and deadlines. This led to a reduction in staff outflow from science to other areas.
With the independence in the Republic, there began a forging of new approaches to the development of science and management of STP in accordance with the objectives to the development of Kazakhstan as a sovereign state. The issues of forming an independent science and technology policy and management of science were the basis of the Law "On Science and State Science and Technology Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan” adopted in January 1992. In February, the Ministry of Science and new technologies was formed. After several reorganizations by the Republican body, the Ministry of Education and Science became the organ which implementing the state scientific and technical policy.
Activities in the field of science sufficiently supplied with the proper legal and regulatory documents. Since 1992, the President of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic adopted more than 90 legislative documents related to science and scientific and technical sphere.
During those years, in the Republic there had been created a number of new research and design organizations, including the six institutes of the Academy of Sciences. By the 1980-s, there were 140 academic institutions in Kazakhstan in which 21.1 thousands of people were employed. Main scientific forces were concentrated in the Academy of Sciences - 31 academic institutions, among them 24 scientific-research institute. The scientists of the Academy of Sciences conducted research practically on all major areas of economy and science.
Major scientific forces were also in 55 post-secondary educational establishments of Ministry of Higher and secondary education, 13 academic institutions of the Ministry of Public Health, 14 research institutes of the East Branch of VASKHNIL, 3 NGOs of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic. In addition, the applied research was conducted in 40 branches and offices of the Research institutes of the Union located in Kazakhstan.
In the 1990's., there were 279 research institutions, including branches and independent laboratories of research institutes and universities of Union subordination in Kazakhstan. The number of workers of the main scientific and technical activities constituted of 50,6 thousands people.
The crisis in the economy and the associated reduction in funding for science from the State budget, as well as a drastic decrease in orders for the production of science and technology products have led to a significant reduction in the volume of R&D and the number of employees in science. Compared to 1990, by 2000 the number of employees engaged in scientific and technical activity, decreased by the factor of 3, and the costs of R&D - by the factor of 6,6 times. During this period, the State paid special attention to the preservation of the main part of the staff potential of science - the doctors and candidates of science. This not only saved the body of doctors of sciences, but also increased their number. However, the number of candidates of sciences involved in the scientific and technical activity, decreased by the factor of 2. Despite economic constraints, during this period, 29 public research organizations were re-created.
With the improvement of the economy since2000, funding for science is carried out in the planned volumes and deadlines. This led to a reduction in staff outflow from science to other areas.
With the independence in the Republic, there began a forging of new approaches to the development of science and management of STP in accordance with the objectives to the development of Kazakhstan as a sovereign state. The issues of forming an independent science and technology policy and management of science were the basis of the Law "On Science and State Science and Technology Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan” adopted in January 1992. In February, the Ministry of Science and new technologies was formed. After several reorganizations by the Republican body, the Ministry of Education and Science became the organ which implementing the state scientific and technical policy.
Activities in the field of science sufficiently supplied with the proper legal and regulatory documents. Since 1992, the President of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic adopted more than 90 legislative documents related to science and scientific and technical sphere.
The reform of science has been reflected in the Government Resolution of the Republic of Kazakhstan of 25.12.1998, № 1335 "Issues of establishments - administrators of programs funded from the state budget”, under which practically all academic institutions have been transformed into the scientific state enterprises.
In order to create a competitive environment in the field of science in accordance with the provisions of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On approval of instruction on the development of model rules on public order, performed by the State budget” of 22.12.1998, № 1314, and "On the formation and implementation of programs of scientific research conducted by the State budget” of 23.02.1999, № 145, the program-target principle of implementation of research was established, which was secured by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Science”. One of the most important mechanisms of program-target method of managing the research process is an independent State scientific and technical expertise implemented in accordance with Government Resolution of 27.12.2002, № 1385 "Rules of the organization and conduction of the state scientific and technical expertise."
In 1999, under the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a higher scientific and technical commission established - a consultative and advisory body, which deals with the definition of public priorities for development of fundamental and applied science, preparation of recommendations for the formation of improvement of public scientific, scientific and technical and innovative policy of the Country.
Basic legal act regulating relations in the field of science and scientific and technical sphere was the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Science” enacted in 2001.
In October 2003, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the basis of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan was formed a public association "The National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan".
In 2003, in the Republic, research and development was carried out by 267 organizations. They employed 16,0 thousand people, including specialists - researchers - 9,36, technicians - 1,36, support staff – 3,0, other workers - 2,28 thousand. Among specialist-researchers 942 employees have a Doctorate degree, 2688 are Candidates of Sciences.
The Ministry of Education and Science are currently administrates 55 research organizations. They employ more than 5 thousand people, of whom more than 2,3 thousand are academic staff, including 450 Doctors of Sciences, and about 1000 candidates of science.
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with the Law of RK "On Science” began an attestation of public research enterprises and accreditation of non-governmental organizations engaged in research. Attestations are conducted for heads of scientific organizations under the Ministry.
In order to better adapt the activities of science to follow the market requirements, the issues of funding for research to bring to the process of the private sector are determined, assessing the available scientific and technical products, the commercialization of research work conducted by state order, the creation of venture funds, the withdrawal of Kazakh science products on the world market.
In order to create a competitive environment in the field of science in accordance with the provisions of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On approval of instruction on the development of model rules on public order, performed by the State budget” of 22.12.1998, № 1314, and "On the formation and implementation of programs of scientific research conducted by the State budget” of 23.02.1999, № 145, the program-target principle of implementation of research was established, which was secured by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Science”. One of the most important mechanisms of program-target method of managing the research process is an independent State scientific and technical expertise implemented in accordance with Government Resolution of 27.12.2002, № 1385 "Rules of the organization and conduction of the state scientific and technical expertise."
In 1999, under the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a higher scientific and technical commission established - a consultative and advisory body, which deals with the definition of public priorities for development of fundamental and applied science, preparation of recommendations for the formation of improvement of public scientific, scientific and technical and innovative policy of the Country.
Basic legal act regulating relations in the field of science and scientific and technical sphere was the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Science” enacted in 2001.
In October 2003, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the basis of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan was formed a public association "The National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan".
In 2003, in the Republic, research and development was carried out by 267 organizations. They employed 16,0 thousand people, including specialists - researchers - 9,36, technicians - 1,36, support staff – 3,0, other workers - 2,28 thousand. Among specialist-researchers 942 employees have a Doctorate degree, 2688 are Candidates of Sciences.
The Ministry of Education and Science are currently administrates 55 research organizations. They employ more than 5 thousand people, of whom more than 2,3 thousand are academic staff, including 450 Doctors of Sciences, and about 1000 candidates of science.
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with the Law of RK "On Science” began an attestation of public research enterprises and accreditation of non-governmental organizations engaged in research. Attestations are conducted for heads of scientific organizations under the Ministry.
In order to better adapt the activities of science to follow the market requirements, the issues of funding for research to bring to the process of the private sector are determined, assessing the available scientific and technical products, the commercialization of research work conducted by state order, the creation of venture funds, the withdrawal of Kazakh science products on the world market.