Tag: Satbayev University

The Kazakhstan-Korea Rare Metals Technology Center has officially opened at the Institute of Metallurgy and Ore Beneficiation of Satbayev University. The new center will bring together scientists and engineers from both countries to conduct joint research, develop technologies for the advanced processing of mineral resources and the production of rare metals and advanced materials, and facilitate their industrial application.

The opening marks an important milestone in strengthening scientific and technological cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea and supporting the development of high-tech industries.

The project aligns with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s strategic agenda to expand cooperation with the Republic of Korea in the field of rare and rare-earth metals. During his state visit to Seoul, the President emphasized the importance of establishing a complete production cycle, from scientific research and raw material extraction to advanced processing and the manufacture of finished products.

The opening ceremony brought together representatives of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the diplomatic corps of the Republic of Korea, research organizations, and mining and metallurgical companies.

The ceremony was opened by Bagdaulet Kenzhaliev, Director General of the Institute of Metallurgy and Ore Beneficiation, who welcomed the Korean delegation. In his remarks, he highlighted the importance of developing advanced processing technologies for rare metals and producing advanced materials to strengthen the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Korea.

According to Kenzhaliev, the new center will strengthen links between research and industry, direct scientific developments towards practical industrial challenges, and enhance Kazakhstan’s technological capabilities. He also emphasized the importance of introducing the results of joint research into industrial production and expanding cooperation with domestic enterprises.

In a congratulatory letter read at the opening ceremony, Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, highlighted the project’s significance for the development of the country’s scientific and industrial sectors.

“The establishment of the Kazakhstan-Korea Rare Metals Center is an important step in advancing scientific and technological cooperation between our countries. The center will help improve technologies for the advanced processing of mineral resources, develop the production of high-value-added products and strengthen Kazakhstan’s technological capabilities,” the minister’s message stated.

The center was established with the support of government bodies in both countries. The project is being implemented by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) and the Korea National Institute of Rare Metals (KORAM) under the Republic of Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) program.

“The new center will facilitate the introduction of Korean technologies in Kazakhstan for rare metal processing and advanced purification, as well as the production of materials for high-tech industries. This will enable Kazakhstan to manufacture products in demand among producers of electronics, electric vehicles and other advanced technologies,” said Park Kyung-tae, Director of KORAM.

On the day of the opening, the center held the first meeting of its Joint Steering Committee. Representatives of both countries discussed the schedule for equipping laboratories with modern facilities, training specialists and establishing cooperation with industrial enterprises. The agenda also covered joint research activities and the center’s future plans.

The Institute of Metallurgy and Ore Beneficiation at Satbayev University will serve as the center’s scientific foundation, drawing on its extensive experience in metallurgy and mineral processing research. Cooperation with Korean partners will combine Kazakhstan’s scientific expertise with the Republic of Korea’s advanced technologies and engineering experience.

“We look forward to the active involvement of our industrial partners. Your practical challenges will help us identify research priorities, while joint testing will prepare our developments for industrial implementation. It is important to us that the center’s research results find practical application at enterprises,” said Meiram Begentayev, Chairman of the Board and Rector of Satbayev University.

Rare and rare-earth metals are essential to electronics, energy, mechanical engineering and other high-tech industries. Developing advanced processing technologies will help Kazakhstan’s resource-rich regions make more efficient use of their mineral wealth and expand the production of high-value-added goods. The new center is expected to contribute to this effort by strengthening international research cooperation and bringing scientific developments closer to industrial application.

Scientists at SU have developed a comprehensive technology for treating water and soil contaminated with heavy metals, radioactive elements and organic pollutants. Laboratory tests demonstrated removal efficiencies of up to 99% for certain types of contaminants. The technologies have also been tested at industrial facilities in Kazakhstan.

The approach is based on materials capable of absorbing and retaining pollutants. Produced from natural raw materials and plant waste, these materials offer a way to transform agricultural by-products into useful resources for water and soil remediation.

One area of research focuses on removing radioactive elements from water. The filter material developed by the scientists removed up to 99% of strontium-90, while the systems designed to remove cesium-137 also demonstrated high efficiency.

To address contaminants that are difficult to remove through conventional filtration, the researchers applied cold plasma technology. An electrical discharge helps break down complex organic substances into simpler compounds. Laboratory tests showed that the treatment removed more than 99% of a model organic pollutant in approximately 30 minutes. The technology can also be used for water disinfection and additional treatment of industrial wastewater.

The research team tested its developments on industrial wastewater from enterprises in Kazakhstan. Based on the results, the scientists proposed a multi-stage treatment system that removes impurities and salts, provides additional filtration and prepares water for reuse. Separate experiments were also conducted using uranium-containing solutions. The findings are being used to further develop a multi-stage purification system.

Another area of the research program focuses on restoring contaminated soils. The scientists found that adding biochar helps retain copper, zinc, cadmium and lead in the soil, reducing the mobility of these heavy metals. At the same time, biochar improves certain biological properties of the soil.

“An important feature of the project is that we assess not only treatment efficiency, but also environmental and economic feasibility,” said Professor Toktarbai Zheksenbek, PhD, the project manager. “We have calculated the life cycle of the new materials, taking their carbon footprint into account. The use of plant-based raw materials, the reuse of sorbents and technologies that require fewer chemical reagents can help reduce environmental impacts and potentially lower treatment costs.”

The research is being conducted under the scientific and technical program BR27199301, “Development of Climate-Neutral New Materials, Advanced Technologies and Methods to Protect the Environment from Anthropogenic Pollution and Climate Change.”

The program has already produced a range of scientific and practical results. Researchers have published 17 scientific articles in journals indexed by Scopus and Web of Science and eight articles in journals recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education (CQASHE). Four utility model patents have been granted, while two additional patent applications are under review.

International cooperation is another important outcome of the research. The scientists secured a Polish grant to support collaborative research and received an invitation to undertake a scientific internship at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), creating further opportunities to advance their work and exchange expertise with international partners.

Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on industrial cooperation in rare metals during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit to South Korea and the Kazakhstan-Korea Business Summit in Seoul.

The partnership brings together KORAM, the Korea National Institute of Rare Metals of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), and the Institute of Metallurgy and Beneficiation at Satbayev University as coordinating organizations.

“We seek to develop technologies that transform Kazakhstan’s resource potential into advanced processing capabilities, innovative materials, and new industrial expertise. This is precisely the role of a modern technical university: connecting science, industry, and international technology partnerships,” said Satbayev University Rector Meiram Begentayev.

A distinctive feature of the memorandum is the participation of major industrial companies from both countries. The Kazakh partners include Tau-Ken Samruk, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), Kazzinc, Ulba Metallurgical Plant, Kazakhmys, Zhezkazganredmet, Tau-Ken Altyn, Phoenix Mining, and the Central Asian Institute for Environmental Research (CAIER). The Korean side is represented by 19 industrial companies, including Korea Zinc, LS MnM, TaeguTec, SeAH Changwon Integrated Special Steel, and COSMO AM&T.

The cornerstone of the partnership will be the Kazakhstan-Korea Rare Metals Centre, which is being established in Almaty. The Centre will serve as a long-term platform for joint research, technology development and testing, rare metals processing and recycling, technology transfer, and the commercialization of scientific developments. The memorandum also covers investment cooperation, specialist training, and the development of joint industrial projects.

The initiative will help Kazakh companies explore advanced Korean processing technologies and expand the production of higher-value-added materials domestically, while creating new opportunities for Korean companies to cooperate with Kazakhstan’s mining and processing industries.

In July 2026, KITECH and KORAM specialists visited the Institute of Metallurgy and Beneficiation at Satbayev University to develop the technological concept and equipment requirements for the future Centre together with Kazakh scientists and engineers.

By combining Satbayev University’s scientific expertise, Korean technological capabilities, and the industrial resources of both countries, the Centre aims to advance innovative solutions for the electronics, battery, energy, and advanced materials sectors and support the development of Kazakhstan’s rare metals industry.

Satbayev University has officially opened its new Mechanical Prototyping & Pilot Production center – an advanced facility engineered to bridge the gap between digital concepts and physical manufacturing. Operating under a comprehensive “Idea to Product” framework, the center is to unify design, fabrication, and testing under one roof, allowing engineering projects to progress seamlessly from CAD/CAM models and technical documentation to functional prototypes, industrial samples, and small-batch production runs. Accommodating up to 100 students and researchers in its training and manufacturing zones, the facility offers a collaborative ecosystem where young innovators work alongside experienced mentors on real-world engineering challenges while scientists refine their own technologies into market-ready products.

The center’s manufacturing infrastructure is equipped for precision laser metal cutting, bending, forging, welding, and assembly, complemented by rigorous testing capabilities including environmental, climatic, tensile strength, and quality control assessments.

One of the facility’s flagship initiatives focuses on railway engineering through a joint project with LocoSystems KZ to manufacture brake blocks for rolling stock, an effort aimed at import substitution for critical components and advancing domestic competence in railway manufacturing. Maksat Kanatbaev, head of LocoSystems KZ and a SU alumnus, emphasized that the goal was to bring together science, education, business, and industry in a single space so that young researchers could bring their ideas to life right at the workbench.

In addition to student training, the center serves as a robust production base for university scientists to build prototypes, conduct tests, prepare technology for market deployment, fulfill commercial engineering orders, and produce pilot batches. Sapar Shalabaev, Vice-Rector of SU, underscored the core philosophy behind the facility, stating that a good engineering idea must be able to quickly transform into a working prototype and then into a real product, requiring equipment, competence, and an environment where a student or young researcher can try, make mistakes, and try again.

By combining engineering education, technological innovation, and industrial implementation, the Mechanical Prototyping & Pilot Production center creates a dynamic pipeline where student ideas become real physical products and scientific research achieves meaningful industrial application.

In a major boost to international scientific and technological collaboration, Kazakhstan is launching a landmark joint research hub dedicated to the processing of critical raw materials. Supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh-Korean Center for Rare and Rare-earth Metals is being established on the basis of the Institute of Metallurgy and Enrichment at Satbayev University, in direct partnership with the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) and the Korea National Institute of Rare Metals (KORAM).

During a recent high-level working meeting, leadership representatives from Satbayev University, KITECH, and KORAM outlined the key development phases of the project. Discussions centered on equipping the new center with state-of-the-art analytical and technological machinery, deepening joint scientific initiatives, and building an international framework for technology transfer.

 

Beyond advanced research, the center will serve as an educational and scientific hub for training highly qualified engineers and researchers in the rare metals sector. Kazakhstani scientists will gain direct access to modern experimental equipment, opening new avenues for applied R&D and international scientific exchange.

 

“Combining the scientific potential of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea will allow us to introduce modern technologies for processing strategic raw materials, expand scientific research, and train world-class specialists,” said Professor Meiram Begentayev, Rector of Satbayev University.

The new center is set to become Kazakhstan’s first full-cycle specialized platform dedicated to rare and rare earth metals. Its operational scope will encompass every stage of research and technological adoption:

 

• Developing, testing, and scaling environmentally safe technologies to extract and produce pure and ultra-pure rare and rare earth metals.
• Conducting comprehensive studies on mineral chemistry, extraction kinetics, and advanced material synthesis.
• Running pilot trials to evaluate the commercial viability of novel processing technologies for both primary mineral ores and industrial technogenic waste (tailings and slag).

 

By combining research excellence, state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure, and industry-aligned specialist training, the Kazakh-Korean Center will reinforce Kazakhstan’s standing as a reliable, high-tech global supplier of critical rare metals.

Satbayev University scientists successfully tested modern fiber-optic sensors that continuously monitor the technical condition of metal and concrete structures. As part of the scientific project, the effectiveness of an innovative monitoring system based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBG), designed to improve the engineering structures safety, was investigated and confirmed.

Research was carried out with the support of Science Committee at Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Project’s principal goal is to elaborate domestic technological solutions that allow real-time monitoring of the stress-strain state of metal and concrete structures. The created system makes it possible to detect changes in the condition of construction sites at an early stage and prevent possible defects and emergencies.

During the research, fiber-optic sensors were installed on metal and concrete samples and underwent comprehensive tests on the specially designed experimental stand. Scientists conducted a comparative analysis with traditional electric-strain-measuring methods and found that the new technology is highly accurate and reliable.

Test results showed that fiber-optic sensors are resistant to electromagnetic interference, corrosion and aggressive environments. This opens up wide opportunities for their use on bridges, tunnels, industrial facilities, residential complexes and transport infrastructure.

In line with the project manager, PhD, professor Nurzhigit Smaylov, fiber-optic monitoring systems make it possible to monitor the construction sites safety throughout their entire life.

“The given technology provides continuous monitoring of the structures condition, helps to identify defects in a timely manner and prevent emergencies. As a result, the reliability of facilities increases and operating costs decrease,” said Nurzhigit Smaylov.

One of the important results of the project was the formation of scientific and technical base for evolving the intelligent structural monitoring systems in Kazakhstan. Launch of such technologies not only increases the security of infrastructure facilities, but also provides economic benefits by reducing repair and maintenance costs.

In addition, the development of the given area contributes to creating the high-tech industries, training of engineering personnel and increasing the competitiveness of domestic scientific elaborations on the international market.

University undergraduates and doctoral students, who gained practical experience working with present-day measuring systems, actively participated in the project execution. Research results have been presented at international scientific conferences and published in scientific publications.

Scientific work was performed jointly with foreign partners. International cooperation has made it possible to use world best practices and improve the research quality. 

Project opens up new opportunities for ensuring safety in the construction and industrial sectors of Kazakhstan and once again confirms the national science’s high potential in engineering infrastructure digitalization sphere.

Satbayev University continues to evolve strategically important infrastructure projects that combine engineering education, applied science and real-world industrial challenges. “Baiganat” industrial certification testing center will become one of these projects, the given one is being created in Astana jointly with Scientific research center for complex transport problems. University is taking over the research base and training of engineering personnel, and SRC CTP will ensure that the project is linked to the transport sector’s practical needs.

Laboratory will include four main areas: vibration tests, climate tests, IP dust and moisture protection tests, as well as tests of low-voltage and high-voltage electrical equipment. It will allow companies to confirm their products’ quality and safety in the shortest possible time, reduce dependence on foreign laboratories and help them enter new markets more confidently.

– Kazakhstan is currently experiencing the shortage of sites capable of performing a full cycle of tests for the railway, transport and medical industries, – said Raushan Aimagambetova, head of the branch of Mechanical engineering department at A. Burkitbayev Energy and Mechanical Engineering Institute in Astana. – Therefore, the new laboratory is designed not only to provide domestic manufacturers with the necessary testing base and significantly reduce the time required for testing, but also to make the process absolutely transparent. Transparency and results are our motto.

To ensure this, the laboratory will be equipped with the LIMS system. It is a software that integrates the key stages of the laboratory’s work into a single digital circuit: from receiving the samples and planning tests to recording the results, storing data and preparing reports. This is especially important for a laboratory that will work based on the logic of international requirements for the testing centers competence.

– We relied on present-day equipment from the world’s best manufacturers, such as Brüel&Kjær, Angelantoni Test Technologies, Chroma ATE, Siglent Technologies, Hioki, Sonel, HBK, Tunkia and Guildline Instruments,” said Rassul Tlegenov, the future head of the laboratory. – We also pay special attention to preparing the building so that the laboratory meets its purpose in all aspects.

In addition to its role as a national platform for scientific and technical support of railway and transport sector enterprises, “Bayganat” laboratory will become a competence center for students, undergraduates, doctoral students and young researchers. Center’s planned accreditation according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 will confirm the laboratory’s competence and form the basis for further cooperation with overseas universities, testing centers and industrial partners as well.