Research Policy

The content of the National Policy in the field of scientific research, development and innovation, as well as the objectives and priority directions are defined by the state policy of development and approved by the government of the Kyrgyz Republic. The research policy of the country is carried out in accordance with the National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic 2013-2017. The Kyrgyz Republic Sustainable Development Strategy 2013-2017 emphasises that one of the main sources of sustainable economic growth is ensuring transformation of the scientific research potential of the country that will facilitate technological modernisation of the economy and guarantee the competitiveness of the country.

There is also another important document in the field of scientific research and innovative work in the country named the State Programme of Intellectual Property and Innovation for 2012-2016. This Programme provides for the creation of favourable conditions for developing innovative activity through implementation of the projects "Informational promotion for innovative activity of SMEs" and "New generation of inventers and innovators of Kyrgyzstan" and development of a number of regulations.

Legislation in the field of research

The following legislation applies in the field of science and innovation activity:

• Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Science and Foundations of State Science and Technology Policy" dated 15 April 1994;
• Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On innovation activity" dated 25 October 1999;
• Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic" dated 28 June 2002;
• Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Education" (2003).

In addition, The provisions "On the formation and implementation of state scientific and technical programmes", "On the organisation and conduct of state (independent) scientific and technical expertise in projects of scientific research and development activity" and "On the procedures for financing of scientific, technical and innovation activity provided by the national budget", approved by Decree of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic N 429 dated 6 August 2023 (amended Decree N 479 dated 23 August 2023).

On 11 February 2024 a parliamentary hearing was held, titled: "The state of science and innovation in the Kyrgyz Republic and its prospect for development". The Head of Committee on Education and Science of the Kyrgyz parliament noted that for the last ten years no hearing dedicated to scientific and innovative development had been held on such a high level.
This event was attended by parliamentary deputies, the president's officials, government bodies with responsibility for science, all leading scientists, eminent academicians, professors, rectors of universities, directors of academic institutes, scientific and research institutions in the field of health, agrarian science, and young scientists.

During the hearing, the following speakers were presented: the Minister of Education and Science, Minister of Health, President of NAS KR, Rector of Kyrgyz State Agrarian University named after K.I. Skryabin, Chairman of the State Intellectual Property Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, Chairman of the High Attestation Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic, Minister of Finance, well known academicians and others.

With the purpose of further improving science and innovations and the prospects for scientific and innovative development, the following guidance was approved during the parliamentary hearing:

• to amend and complement the legislation in the field of science and innovation;
• to establish a science and innovation fund under the Ministry of Education and Science;
• to draw up a further programme of innovation development in the Kyrgyz Republic;
• to draw up a government programme with the aim of engaging young scientists;
• to identify the status of PhD Doctors;
• to complete the work on the Code on science and innovation.

During the parliamentary hearing, priority directions for science, innovation and research development were also identified, the main one being further fruitful collaboration with European partners and colleagues. In particular the Head of the Committee on Education and Science of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic noted the importance of the new "Horizon 2020" EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. He called on scientists and researchers to actively participate in this project, which can be a powerful incentive for science, technology and innovation development in the country.

Furthermore the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic has adopted the Strategy on "National Academy of Sciences Development for the period 2013-2025". Expected results from Strategy implementation:

• Formation of balanced, sustainable system of scientific research and development under the NAS KR, provides expanded reproduction of knowledge which is competitive on the global market.
• Establishment of effective innovative system of NAS KR, which provides cooperation with the domestic sector of the economy.
• Active assistance for technological modernisation of the strategic fields for the economy of the country and increasing their competitiveness on the basis of domestic advanced technologies.

The implementation of the Strategy consists of two stages:

• Stage 1 – 2013-2017;
• Stage 2 – 2018-2025.

National research programmes

In 2013 the Ministry of Education and Science implemented 135 scientific projects from 48 sectorial scientific research institutes and scientific departments of universities in the amount of 148,655,900 soms. Last year 20 scientific projects were completed; another 115 projects will be continued in 2014 according to the agreement of the customer (MES KR) and executor (scientific research institute and universities) on the basis of a solution regarding scientific technological collaboration (on the recommendation of the Experts Council according to the results of previous year reports.)

Projects of the Academic Framework Programme of NAS KR and its fundamental and applied scientific research work and developments for the period to 2017 include implementation of 83 projects on 8 directions.

The State Agency for Intellectual Property Protection prepared a draft Regulation "On the criteria and requirements for the inclusion of the project to support innovation in the Kyrgyz Republic". The Regulation makes provisions for the procedures and criteria for the selection of innovative projects that can be recommended for further implementation. A public discussion was held for the project with stakeholders and coordination with ministries and agencies. Currently, work is on-going to finalise the draft version in light of the comments and suggestions.

At the national level partnerships were established with various agencies and organisations. In October 2013, the Interdepartmental Regulation on Interaction as well as the Action Plan of Kyrgyz patent were signed with the Ministry of Education and Science on the issues of innovation development.

Due to limited science funding, research institutions focused on cooperation with international partners in order to attract investment and grants to implement their projects.

Reforms of the National Science and Innovation System

The vision of the national innovation system of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2020, the principles and foundations of development priorities of the country determines the "concept of innovation development of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2020." (Hereinafter - the Concept).

The Concept was developed in light of current strategic documents of the President and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic: National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic for the period of 2013-2017 years, the Programme for the transition to sustainable development of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2013-2017, the State program for development of intellectual property and innovation of the Kyrgyz Republic in 2012-2016 years, other programme proposals of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, ministries and governmental bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the business community, scientists and inventors.

The main goal of innovative development is the formation of a national innovation system for creating competitive products, services and technologies based on foreign technology with selective support of domestic developments, oriented towards the priorities of economic modernization of the country.

Achieving the goal is expected due to solving of following tasks:

• Development of innovation infrastructure;
• Ensuring access to finance and tax incentives;
• Formation and integration of elements of the national innovation system focused on the international transfer of technology;
• Ensuring the relationship of science and business;
• Assistance in the modernization of economy and industry on the basis of public-private partnerships;
• Creation of conditions for increasing the role of the regions in the development of innovative activities.

During the solving of tasks of reforming the system of science and the development of public policies the following principles must be taken into account:

• to combine funding and use it not for keeping the Research Institutes, but for financing the major projects on a competitive basis, including government contracts, that have a particular impact in the economy. In order to perform large-scale projects must be united the efforts of scientists and experts from different departments: National Academy of Sciences, universities and other research institutes involving experts-manufacturers;
• provide priority to applied science, especially in those areas where we can expect practical results in the form of their implementation in the priority sectors of the economy for the country, such as the technology of processing of agricultural raw materials, use of natural resources of the republic, etc .;
• make an inventory of the results of scientific research in order to identify innovations that have the potential and prospects for implementation in the sectors of the economy of the republic.

Taking into account the lack of economic, material and technical, as well as qualitative and quantitative research potential of the country, a system of drawing new knowledge and technologies abroad must be created, where the science of the republic will facilitate their adaptation for use by domestic enterprises.

Organizational structure of the scientific field management of the Kyrgyz Republic

In order to optimize the organizational structure for the implementation of the state scientific and technical policy was created the Council for Science under the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic. The functions of the Council are:

• preparation of proposals to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic on the priorities and mechanisms of the development of science in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as measures aimed at implementation of the state policy in the sphere of science;
• preparation of proposals to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in areas of executive authorities in the field of science and research organizations.

The Council consists of:

• Chairman - Prime Minister;
• Vice-Chairmen - Deputy Prime Minister, representative of the national scientific community;
• Members of the Council: 1/3 - representatives of national scientific communities, individual scientists, 1/3 - representatives of agencies, business community, 1/3 - foreign scientists, Kyrgyz experts.

To address the tasks assigned to Council, it creates inter-agency working groups among its members with the participation of leading scientists, government officials, local authorities and other organizations.

The Council may establish temporary working groups, subgroups and councils on areas of its activities for the preparation of proposals on specific issues related to tasks assigned to the Council.

In the beginning of 2016 National Science Foundation of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic was established. The Foundation is designed for the effective implementation of the state policy in the field of science and technology.

The Foundation is the organizational structure, serving as the sole holder and manager of budgetary resources devoted to science. Donor and other funds may be involved in the Foundation. Academic institutions, individual scientists and groups of scientists may participate at calls for funding from the Foundation for Science.

Creation of a unified state management in the sphere of science makes unfitting the functioning of the Presidium of the NAS KR that implements governmental functions of National Academy of Sciences, as the highest state scientific institution. The apparatus of the Presidium of National Academy of Sciences, departments and organizations under the Presidium will be reorganized according to the plan of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. NAS KR will receive the status of a state research institution (founder - the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic). Herewith, post 4 vice-presidents of the NAS KR abolished, the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences will work on a voluntary basis.

The reorganization of status of Institutes of the NAS KR will be held according to the plan of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic considering the priorities of the Programme of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. Offered a variety of organizational forms for the institutes of the NAS KR: combine institutes; save institutions as independent scientific institutions; keep institutions as independent research institutions as part of National Academy of Sciences; merge with the state universities; association with other organizations on state-private partnership. Herewith, measures on keeping the funding institutions during the transition period and developing a plan to optimize state universities of KR will be taken.

Principles of financing the scientific activity

In order to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of research, funding for the implementation of scientific and (or) scientific and technical activities from the state budget must be developed in the following forms:

1. basic funding (for a transitional period of up to 2 years);
2. targeted funding;
3. grant funding.

Basic funding to allocate for a transitional period for research institutes that were separated from the NAS KR and integrated with universities. This type of financing will include the costs according to the norms of basic of financing for current provision of scientific infrastructure and property, including buildings, equipment and materials, salaries of administrative and service staff.

Targeted funding to implement to support scientific research, will receive priority in accordance with the priorities of the Programme of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the decisions of the Council for Science under the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, regardless of competitive procedures.

Grant funding is provided in accordance with the priorities of research areas identified by the Council for Science and Innovation under the Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, in order to improve scientific research, scientific and technological capacity and competitiveness of scientific organizations and their teams, as well as scientists.

Challenges and Risks

1. Uncertainty of social situation that does not allow effectively regulate the process of reforming the system of science;
2. Political instability, natural disasters, techno genic disasters, corruption;
3. Reduction of state funding or shortfall of sufficient budgetary resources for the operation of the system of science;
4. Society is not involved in the development and implementation of science policy;
5. Low prestige of profession of the scientist;
6. Lack of understanding of innovation undertaken in science and its necessity among a certain social strata and professional community;
7. Falling behind in the implementation of research results;
8. Falling behind in industrial production due to lack of innovation projects.

Timeframe for implementation of reforms in the organizational system of the scientific sphere of the Kyrgyz Republic

Stage 1 - until 31.12.2023

1. An effective control system of scientific institutions functioning in the country was created, clearly defined functions, powers and responsibilities of each structural element of the system, which provide high quality research to address the priorities of socio-economic strategic objectives at the national level through the effective use of scientific, financial and organizational resources;
2. A legislative and regulatory framework was created, which will ensure the effective functioning of optimized system;
3. Established a register of ownerships of the National Academy of Sciences;
4. Scientific departments of the Kyrgyz Republic reorganized, and integrated into the structure of the specialized higher educational institutions, which allow the best use of the scientific potential for research and scientific staff training;
5. The National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic acts as an institution, taking an active part in the development and implementation of state policy in the field of science in the Kyrgyz Republic;
6. The state policy in the field of science is approved, aimed at solution strategic priorities at the national level;
7. System of identification and changing research priorities is approved, according to the strategic priorities of the country's sustainable development with involvement of foreign experts;
8. Foundation for Science for financial resources, allocated for research, was established;
9. Legal documents governing the funding research in the transition period (until 01.01.2024) and after its completion were developed and approved;
10. Guidelines for expertise research projects, that provide performance and high quality research, were developed, as well as regulations that allow attracting to research not only state funds, but also private capital;
11. Based on the results of pilot projects of universities, a legislative framework for the introduction of a new model of research training is created;
12. Requirements for mandatory publications to evaluate the significance of the work are changed. Point system, that motivates researchers to publish research results in international journals with high impact factor (Scopus, Web of Science, RISC, etc.), will operate, regulatory instruments that will improve access to the evaluation of research results via the Internet resources will be developed.

Stage 2 - until 31.12.2023

1. For comparability of scientific / academic degrees eligibility criteria will be developed. On the basis of the eligibility criteria regulatory instruments that will ensure recognition of the national scientific / academic degrees abroad will be developed, and to facilitate the procedure of recognition of scientific / academic degrees of the leading countries of the world educational space;
2. Consistent schemes of research funding in priority areas at the national / regional levels will be developed;
3. The optimized circuit of defence of candidate and doctorate dissertation will be organized through the formation of single dissertation committees with the participation of leading international experts. Electronic tools will be widely used to enhance transparency of procedures for the preparation and defence of theses at all stages - on-line registration, electronic databases, online publications, web conferencing, video recording, etc.;
4. Updated requirements to the award of academic titles that are not based on quantitative, but on qualitative parameters for scientific and educational works, will be developed and implemented.
5. The updated requirements for liability of scientific advisers, consultants, which improve the quality of research, will be applied.

Stage 3 - from 01.01.2024

1. Introduction of a new model of scientific staff training;
2. The system of preferences for private foundations and individuals, that funds research, will be developed and implemented.

Thus, in recent years laid the foundation for reform in the fields of science, checked the position of the state and the public vision for the development of science, identified priorities for the coming years.

Priority directions of development of science in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2017-2020:

• Efficient use of natural resources - reducing the negative impact of economic activities on the environment and the efficient use of natural resources;
• Food security - ensuring food security, improving the competitiveness of agricultural products and food products on the domestic and foreign markets;
• Information Technology - promote the digital transformation of the national economy, public services and society through the use of innovative advanced technologies;
• Health and quality of life - improving the protection of public health through the development of new technologies and methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of common diseases;
• New technologies in the energy sector - establishment of a reliable, competitive and sustainable energy system of the country;
• The development of tourism and transport system - creation of tourist routes of the transport network for cost-effective, sustainable and safe transport of passengers and goods within the country and beyond its borders in line with international standards;
• Social Sciences and Humanities - spiritual, moral and cultural development of a democratic and legal society.

Source: EIMO
Last update: August 2016