President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that subsoil users in Kazakhstan might be obliged to invest in science, QazMonitor reports.
"It is expedient to develop a law on endowment funds in order to ensure sustainable financing of universities. Particular attention should be paid to increasing science funding from all sources, including mandatory investments by subsoil users in Research and Development amounting to 1% of capital investments," said President Tokayev at the first meeting of the National Science and Technology Council.
It is essential to continue to centralize the expenses of the operating companies. It is extremely important these funds are not perceived to be another tax.
The Head of State noted that it is required to make R&D procedures open, competitive, and accessible to universities and research institutes. The whole process should be accompanied by state scientific technical expertise and councils.