Nazarbayev University has signed a four-way memorandum of understanding with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore). The memorandum expands NU’s partnerships with leading research and academic institutions in Singapore, creating a framework for joint research, academic exchanges, and new innovation projects.
The signing of the memorandum marks another step in the growing academic and research collaboration between the two countries. The partnership gained further momentum from the recent visit to Kazakhstan by Singapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who visited NU during his trip. It followed a series of bilateral engagements, including a visit by NU leadership to Singapore in April 2026 and a visit by a Kazakhstan delegation led by Presidential Adviser Alexey Tsoy in August 2026.
The memorandum sets out a broad framework for cooperation, with an emphasis on developing concrete joint projects, researcher exchanges, skills development and academic mobility. The partnership will also cover innovation ecosystems and research infrastructure.
The signing brought representatives of all four organizations together at Nazarbayev University. NU was represented by its Provost Prof. Rehan Sadiq, A*STAR by Professor Lisa Ng, Executive Director of its Biomedical Research Council; NUS by Professor Lim Soon Wong, Deputy Dean of the NUS Graduate School; and NTU by Associate Professor Torsten Wuestefeld from NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.
“Bringing these four premier institutions together reflects a shared belief that the future of medicine and biomedical sciences requires cross-border, cross-disciplinary collaboration. This network links the distinct strengths of Kazakhstan and Singapore, creating a powerful collaborative corridor. Together, we are uniquely positioned to tackle complex biomedical challenges and drive innovations that no single institution could achieve alone,” said Prof. Huck-Hui Ng, NU Vice President for Medicine and Dean of the School of Medicine.
Prof. Lisa Ng, Executive Director, Biomedical Research Council, A*STAR noted the memorandum creates opportunities to broaden research collaboration and serves as a starting point for future joint projects.
“Nazarbayev University and A*STAR are both multidisciplinary research institutions with complementary strengths across areas such as AI and biology, nutrition science, and disease research. Building on existing joint AI projects with NU’s School of Engineering, we see opportunities to deepen research partnerships, foster greater exchange of expertise, and create more opportunities for talent development,” Prof. Lisa Ng said.
A*STAR is Singapore’s lead public sector research and development agency, with capabilities spanning biomedical sciences to physical sciences and engineering. Through open innovation and collaboration with partners in the public and private sectors, A*STAR translates research into real-world impact, driving scientific discovery, innovation and economic growth. NUS and NTU are among Singapore’s top research universities, with broad expertise in scientific research, technology development and the education and training of future researchers.
As a leading research-intensive university in Central Asia and the Caucasus, NU is committed to expanding its international research partnerships and connections with leading scientific and academic institutions around the world. Such partnerships strengthen NU’s research and technological capacity and enhance its international academic reputation, while creating new opportunities for joint research, knowledge exchange and the translation of research into practical applications.
