QIST
Science Bridge Global Forum 2026
Where global researchers connect, scientific partnerships take shape, and research turns into innovation. The premier forum bringing together researchers, universities & industry R&D leaders, and DeepTech innovators from across Central Asia and beyond.
- Narxoz Business School
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Organized by the Qazaq International Science and Technology Association (QIST), hosted by Narxoz Business School, with support from Galym Project.
Represented Institutions
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Featured Speakers
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Lolahon Kadiri, MD, PhD
Associate Director of Business Development
Yale Ventures, Yale University
USA
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Aliya Sarmanova, MD, PhD
Clinical Development Lead
Roche Diagnostics
Switzerland
-
Shamil Ibragimov
Director of Research
MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship
USA
-
Serik Meirmanov, MD, PhD
Vice-President
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Japan
-
Karlygash Kuralbayeva, PhD
Associate Professor in Economics
SDU University
Former Assistant Professor, King's College London
Kazakhstan
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Serik Tokbolat, PhD
Assistant Professor in Sustainable Construction Engineering
University of Nottingham
United Kingdom
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Galymzhan Issabekov, MD, PhD Candidate
Functional Neurosurgery
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Germany
Speakers & Global Experts
University and Institutional Leaders
-
Kanat Kozhakhmet, PhD
President
Narxoz University
Kazakhstan -
Arman Zhumazhanov, PhD
Rector
SDU
Kazakhstan -
Timur Buldybayev, PhD
Rector
AlmaU
Kazakhstan -
Alimshan Faizulayev, PhD
Associate Professor of Finance, Research Director
Bang College of Business, KIMEP
Kazakhstan -
Zhanar Argynbayeva, PhD
Vice President for Science and Commercialisation
Narxoz University
Kazakhstan
Senior International Professors
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Serik Meirmanov, MD, PhD
Vice-President
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Japan -
Esengali Oskenbayev, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Economics and Management
Narxoz University
Kazakhstan -
Nari Shelekpayev, PhD
Assistant Professor of Slavic Languages and Literature
Yale University
USA -
Murat Issabayev, PhD
Professor of Economics
Narxoz University
Kazakhstan -
Serik Tokbolat, PhD
Assistant Professor in Sustainable Construction Engineering
University of Nottingham
United Kingdom
Innovation and Commercialization Experts
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Shamil Ibragimov
Director of Research
MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship
USA -
Lyazzat Borankulova
Founder & CEO
Growth Vision Pro Ltd, Khan-Tengri Innovation Hub, Shanghai
China -
Lolahon Kadiri, MD, PhD
Associate Director of Business Development
Yale Ventures, Yale University
USA -
Aliya Sarmanova, MD, PhD
Clinical Development Lead
Roche Diagnostics
Switzerland
Emerging Scholars
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Nazgul Zakiyeva, PhD
Assistant Professor in Statistics
Waseda University
Japan -
Didar Baimanov, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Biology and Biological Engineering
South China University of Technology
Former postdoc, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
China -
Sarbinaz Nagyzkhan, PhD Candidate
MSCA Doctoral Fellow
Copenhagen Business School, Denmark & University of Innsbruck, Austria
Denmark -
Jan Muller, PhD Candidate
Public Health
University of Basel
Switzerland
Our community
Minister of Science Meets the Global Scientific Community
At our last forum at Astana Hub, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education met with international scientists and research leaders.
- Scientist members
- 500+
- World-leading institutions
- 158
- Research fields
- 100+
- Countries represented
- 41
About the forum
ScienceBridge Global Forum 2026 brings Central Asian scientists working around the world together with universities, companies and DeepTech founders.
QIST Association unites professors, researchers, university leaders, industry R&D teams, DeepTech founders and entrepreneurs. It helps them start joint research, bring research to market, transfer technology and train young scientists.
The forum takes place on December 25 at Narxoz Business School in Almaty, and we plan to hold it every year. Participants will discuss joint research and teaching projects, technology transfer, science-based startups and work between universities and industry. Young researchers get mentors from abroad, help with academic mobility and contacts in international research networks.
- Date
- December 25, 2026
- Venue
- Narxoz Business School, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Our ambition is to build lasting international research partnerships that result in joint publications, collaborative grant proposals, researcher mobility programs, and technology transfer opportunities, strengthening Central Asia’s scientific capacity and global research integration.
What to expect
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Top Speakers
Academics, industry R&D leaders and international experts on one stage.
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University Leadership
University presidents, rectors, deans and research leaders meet to build international partnerships.
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DeepTech & Research Commercialization
Technology transfer and the path from research to market.
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Masterclasses & Mentorship
Practical advice on academic careers, research funding, mobility and entrepreneurship.
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Research & Industry Partnerships
Joint R&D, applied research and long-term work between universities and companies.
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International Research Panel
Global research trends and joint projects across borders.
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Global Representation
Research leaders from North America, Europe and Asia.
Agenda
Friday, December 25, 2026 · 09:00–15:00 (Almaty, UTC+5) · Narxoz Business School, Leadership Hall
-
Registration & welcome coffee
Arrival, registration, and informal networking.
-
Special executive session
University Leadership, Policymakers & Science Commercialization Ecosystem
Welcome address · Talks & panel discussion
Rectors, vice-rectors, business school deans and international innovation leaders discuss academic partnerships, research commercialization and how to build a stronger science and innovation ecosystem in Central Asia.
- Welcome address
President of Narxoz University
Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Moderator
Serik Meirmanov, MD, PhDVice-President, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
- Speakers
Lolahon Kadiri, MD, PhDAssociate Director of Business Development, Yale Ventures, Yale University, USA
Shamil IbragimovDirector of Research, MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, USA
Asset AbdualiyevFounder & CEO, Silkroad Innovation Hub
Lyazzat BorankulovaFounder & CEO, Growth Vision Pro Ltd; Khan-Tengri Innovation Hub, Shanghai, China
- Special guests
- Kanat Kozhakhmet, PhDPresident, Narxoz University, Kazakhstan
Arman Zhumazhanov, PhDRector, SDU University, Kazakhstan
Timur Buldybayev, PhDRector, AlmaU, Kazakhstan
Zhanar Argynbayeva, PhDVice President for Science and Commercialization, Narxoz University, Kazakhstan
Alimshan Faizulayev, PhDAssociate Professor of Finance, Research Director, Bang College of Business, KIMEP, Kazakhstan
- Invited participants
- University rectors, vice-rectors, business school deans, research institution leaders, and representatives of the science and innovation ecosystem
-
30 min
Coffee break
-
General session
Association Annual Review & Prize Laureate Nomination
Annual review and recognition ceremony · Video greetings
The association reports on the past year: its projects, international collaborations and community milestones. Then it presents next year’s plans and awards the prize laureates for their work in science and innovation.
- Speakers
Galymzhan Issabekov, MD, PhD CandidateCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany- Serik Meirmanov, MD, PhDRitsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan
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Special guest
To be announced.
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Networking session
-
Parallel sessions in four rooms
-
Room 1
International Economics Research Panel
Panel discussion
Panelists discuss research trends and joint projects, share how they built international partnerships, and talk about links between Kazakhstan and researchers abroad.
- Moderator
- To be confirmed
- Panelists
Murat Issabayev, PhDProfessor of Economics, Narxoz University
Karlygash Kuralbayeva, PhDAssociate Professor in Economics, SDU University
Esengali Oskenbayev, PhDAssociate Professor, School of Economics and Management, Narxoz University
Nazgul Zakiyeva, PhDAssistant Professor in Statistics, Waseda University, Japan
- Zhanar Argynbayeva, PhDVice President for Science and Commercialisation, Narxoz University
-
Room 2
Science & DeepTech Startups
Startup showcase / panel
Research-driven startups and DeepTech teams meet investors and industry.
- Moderator and speakers
- To be announced
-
Room 3
Research & Industry: R&D and Business Partnerships
Panel discussion
How universities, research institutes and companies can work together: joint R&D, applied research, technology transfer, commercialization and investment.
- Moderator
- To be confirmed
- Panelists
Aliya Sarmanova, MD, PhDClinical Development Lead, Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland
Iskander AkylbayevFounder and CEO, Xander Group
Aliya Sembayeva, PhDFirst Deputy Chairperson, Science Fund JSC, Kazakhstan
Chingiz ShashkinStaff neurosurgeon at National Centre for Neurosurgery
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Room 4
Early-Career Researchers Mentorship
Interactive mentorship panel and Q&A
Early-career researchers meet PhD researchers and postdocs from universities in North America, Europe and Asia. They talk about academic careers, research opportunities abroad, scholarships, postdoc positions and science-based startups.
- Mentors
- PhD researchers and postdoctoral fellows from North America, Europe, and AsiaNames and institutions to be announced
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Next station Almaty
Venue
Narxoz Business SchoolLeadership Hall
Almaty, Kazakhstan
