Kazakhstan now has its own national database of the top 1% of researchers, introducing a novel approach to evaluating scientific excellence through a Composite Performance Index (CPI). The initiative, led by an international team from Nazarbayev University, marks a major step toward data-driven research assessment and transparency in global academia.
The project was developed by Postdoctoral Researcher Alexey Remizov, Professor Shazim Ali Memon, and Associate Director for Research Analysis Saule Sadykova. Their findings and framework were recently published in the journal Publications — ranked among the top 5% of journals in Communication according to Scopus CiteScore.
More than 100 Kazakhstani researchers have been identified in the database, which uses 16 carefully selected performance metrics. These include research productivity, citation impact, publications in high-percentile journals, authorship roles, and international collaboration. The CPI model aims to create a more transparent, balanced, and equitable evaluation system that goes beyond traditional citation-based rankings.
The ranking exercises were conducted using Kazakhstan as the analytical unit and included:
- Subject-specific rankings identifying the top 1% of scientists across 27 disciplines;
- An overall (subject-independent) list of the top 1% researchers;
- An adjusted version of the overall list accounting for co-authorship.
The full database and methodological framework are publicly available on the Publications website.
The authors note that while no ranking system can fully capture the complexity of academic contribution, the CPI represents a step forward in creating fairer and more meaningful assessments of research excellence. By integrating multiple indicators, the framework provides valuable insights for policymakers, universities, and international partners seeking to understand and support Kazakhstan’s growing research landscape.
