ALMATY – A new £20 million ($33.4 million) partnership programme was launched on April 9 to promote scientific research cooperation between the United Kingdom and Kazakhstan, the press service of the British Council reported.
The new Newton–Al-Farabi partnership programme is a five-year programme to increase cooperation in science and innovation between the Kazakh and UK governments, state and research institutions, universities and enterprises in order to strengthen the innovation capacity and economic development of Kazakhstan.
“I am sure our scientists will actively participate in this programme to gain useful insight from their British colleagues. Moreover, it is a good opportunity to bring domestic science to a new level because it presents new challenges and tasks for local researchers,” said Amandyk Tuleshov, deputy chairman of Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan.
The Newton-Al-Farabi programme includes scholarships, fellowships and joint seminars for young researchers and senior research assistants from Kazakhstan and Britain.
“The Newton Fund is making a shift towards large scale, sustainable and mutually beneficial research relationships between the UK and international partners. Many of the countries involved are where the British Council’s in-depth knowledge on the ground and trusted reputation can provide the platform for new world-class collaboration grounded in excellence and in intercultural understanding,” explained British Council Director of International Higher Education Professor Rebecca Hughes.
The Newton Fund is part of the UK’s official development assistance programme. Its aim is to develop science and innovation partnerships that promote the economic development and welfare of developing countries.
The fund covers three broad areas of activity. It is aimed at improving science and innovation expertise, student and researcher fellowships and joint centres; research collaborations on development topics, as well as innovation partnerships and challenge funds to develop innovative solutions on development topics
