On October 13, Nazarbayev University (NU) hosted a high-level Kazakhstan–Belgium roundtable attended by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians and Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov. The discussions focused on critical minerals, a key area of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belgium.
The meeting followed the agreements reached the previous day during talks between President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and King Philippe. Participants explored opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation in mineral extraction and processing, introduce advanced technologies, and develop industries that produce higher value-added products. Particular attention was given to strengthening links between academia and industry, conducting joint research, and training specialists.
The roundtable brought together representatives of relevant government agencies in Kazakhstan and Belgium, leading industrial companies, including Kazatomprom, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), Tau-Ken Samruk, Molymet, and JGI-Hydrometal, as well as research centres and universities from both countries.
The roundtable was preceded by a Kazakhstan–Belgium seminar on critical minerals held at NU the previous day. The seminar was organised by the Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals at KU Leuven in cooperation with NU, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The findings of the expert discussions were subsequently presented at the high-level roundtable.
Over the two days, NU served as a platform for discussing both practical aspects of industrial cooperation and opportunities for joint research. Key topics included the development of competitive value chains, the adoption of mineral processing technologies, and the exchange of knowledge and innovation.
“Critical minerals are the foundation of the modern economy, providing the backbone for technology, industry, and security. Belgium has a successful model of effective cooperation between university research and industry, built on mutual trust. We are ready to develop our cooperation with Kazakhstan in the same spirit. We are deeply impressed by Kazakhstan’s vision of transforming its rich mineral resources and assets into the industries of the future,” King Philippe noted.
The discussions also covered the development of hydrometallurgy, the recycling of industrial waste, the adoption of circular economy principles, and the digitalisation of subsoil use processes. Particular attention was paid to opportunities for joint research projects and the practical application of university-developed technologies in industry.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde also explored NU’s research and technological developments. Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek and NU President Professor Waqar Ahmad presented the university’s work in advanced materials, energy technologies, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
The Institute of New Materials and Energy Technologies (INMET) presented research into using Kazakhstan’s domestic lithium and nickel resources to produce materials used in batteries. Another area of research focuses on rare earth elements and the development of materials for high-tech industries. These efforts aim to advance mineral processing technologies and expand Kazakhstan’s capacity to manufacture products with higher added value.
The School of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) and the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) showcased developments in artificial intelligence and robotics, including the Kazakhstani KAZ-LLM language model, machine translation systems, and robotic solutions. The application of artificial intelligence in the mining and metallurgical sector was also highlighted as a promising area of cooperation, particularly in addressing practical industrial challenges.
Another NU innovation was demonstrated to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde during their visit to the National Children’s Rehabilitation Center in Astana, together with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The project is a robotic exoskeleton designed to help people with musculoskeletal impairments regain walking ability. It was developed by NU researchers under the leadership of Professor Prashant Jamwal.
By hosting the roundtable, NU brought together discussions on the strategic priorities of Kazakhstan–Belgium cooperation and concrete opportunities for scientific and technological collaboration. Partnerships between universities, research centres, and industrial enterprises can support the development of new technologies, specialist training, and joint projects.
During their visit, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde also met with NU faculty members and students. At the conclusion of the visit, the royal guests signed the university’s Honorable Guest Book, commemorating their visit to Nazarbayev University.
Photo: Press Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan
