91��ý

A significant event took place at 91��ý Kazakh National University as part of the official visit of Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng to Kazakhstan.

A solemn opening ceremony of the Hydrogen Technology Innovation Center, which is of strategic importance for the country's energy industry, was organized at the university.

The teleconference, which united Astana and Almaty, was attended by the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerlan Akkenzhenov, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek, the Mayor of Shanghai Gong Zheng and representatives of official delegations of the two countries. Within the framework of the solemn event, a trilateral memorandum of cooperation was signed between KazNU, Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU) and Energy China International.

Opening the event, the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerlan Akkenzhenov highly appreciated the potential of hydrogen energy in Kazakhstan and noted that the choice of KazNU as an industry center of technological competence of the Ministry of Energy is not accidental.: "Hydrogen energy is one of the strategic vectors for the development of our sector. The Concept adopted in 2024 laid the legal and economic foundation for the formation of a new industry aimed at decarbonizing the economy. The new Center should become the main specialized platform for training engineers of a new formation, conducting applied research and introducing innovations into production as soon as possible",- the minister stressed.

The Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, also spoke at the ceremony. He stressed that today the world is on the verge of a radical, fundamental revolution in the field of energy, and hydrogen energy is one of the most promising areas in this field: "The huge investments we make in any technology require sufficient energy supply. In this regard, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education is currently working in two areas: training personnel and launching several promising scientific research projects. A very important memorandum will be signed today with Shanghai Jiaotong Polytechnic University. To date, specialized programs on hydrogen energy have been launched on the basis of the flagship of higher education – al-Farabi Kazakh National University and other Kazakhstani universities".

Chairman of the Board-Rector of KazNU Zhanseit Tuimebayev stressed in his speech that modern universities have transformed into strategic centers where new sectors of the economy are being formed. "Universities today are not only training centers, but also key drivers of economic growth, technological development and competitiveness of the country. In recent years, al-Farabi Kazakh National University has consistently implemented this mission, transforming itself into a new type of university – a university that not only teaches, but creates technologies, forms markets and acts as a full–fledged partner of the state and industry",- the rector emphasized.

At the end of the event, an integrated magnesium-based water electrolysis and hydrogen storage system was launched in real time. The new structure is intended to become an institutional framework for the training of new generation specialists and the implementation of pilot projects in the field of hydrogen energy.

Press-service of 91��ý Kazakh National University