ALMAU AND SCIENCE Fund (FOUNDATION) HAVE SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION

Today, AlmaU signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Science Foundation, thereby formalising cooperation in the field of commercialisation. It should be noted that AlmaU and the Science Foundation have been working together on the Acceleration Programme for scientific projects for the past six months.  

The meeting of the parties was attended by Abdilda Shamenov, Chairman of the Board of the Science Foundation JSC, Rector of AlmaU Gulnara Kurenkeeva, Vice-Rector for Science Bakytzhan Sarkeev, Advisor to the Rector Kendrick White, Director of the Information and Resource Department Timur Buldybaev, Program Director of the School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Daniyar Medetov.

During the meeting, Parties discussed four areas of collaboration activity:
• Creation of Technology Commercialization Center 
• Scientific projects acceleration Program
• Joint events for the researches and businessmen in the format of forums, commercialization reactor, etc.
• Special training program for technology commercialization offices.

AlmaU proposes to launch the Center on the Commercialization of Scientific Projects of Kazakhstani Scientists.

The purpose of the Commercialization Center is to expertise innovative projects and to assess their potential for the benefit of commercial application. Demand confirmation of the new technologies is based on the introduction of the initial stage “Proof of Concept”; as well establishment of networking between innovators and businessmen, and launching Industry Advisory Board to find industry partners. Over half of the year AlmaU and the Science Fund representatives have been jointly working on the Program on the Acceleration of Scientific Projects.

It is important to note that AlmaU, together with the Science Fund, have implemented the Program dedicated to the acceleration of scientific projects in the field of ecology, agronomy, landscape design, genetics, beekeeping and other important areas.  Within the Program framework training series was held on May 17 to May 28, for university teams represented by commercial scientists - researches.

Teams presented 12 projects by in the field of ecology, agronomy, landscape design, genetics, beekeeping, etc. during the trainings that gathered 54 participants
The work of the trainings was divided into 3 blocks:
• Project management and value proposition development
• Financial model and budgeting
• Preparation for the presentation to the investor.

Participants performed analysis of the project relevance, competitors, project stakeholders, risks, and other important aspects. 

Participating AlmaU experts were Daniyar Medetov, Program Director of the School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Bakytzhan Sarkeev, Vice-Rector on Science.

As a result, 10 out of 12 teams completed the training. According to the speakers' feedback, 6 out of 12 projects have a serious potential for implementation.

In addition, the parties will implement joint scientific activities. On 17 June, the Science Foundation is expected to hold a "Commercialisation Reactor", where the joint work of AlmaU and the Science Foundation will also be presented.