The Supreme Audit Institution of the Republic of Kazakhstan (SAI) has completed an audit of the effectiveness of the use of public funds in the scientific sphere. The audit revealed unimplemented scientific assignments worth KZT 67 billion, delays in competitions and risks of conflicts of interest. The results were considered on 11 November at a plenary session of the Kurultai.
SCIENCE FUNDING MORE THAN DOUBLED
According to the SAI, over 2022–2025 funding for science in Kazakhstan increased from KZT 122 to 262 billion. However, the share of scientific expenditure in the economy remains at 0.16% of GDP against a target of 1%.
At the same time, the state share of funding rose from 55% to 82%. Auditors attribute this trend to weak business demand for scientific developments and limited private-sector participation in research.
TARGETS OF SCIENCE POLICY LOWERED
The audit revealed inconsistency in the management of the scientific sphere. Over 2021–2025, four programme documents were in force, three of which were terminated early.
At the same time, key targets were lowered:
- Expenditure on research and development (R&D) — from 2% to 0.5% of GDP.
- Growth in the number of researchers — from 50% to 7%.
- Share of private co-financing — from 50% to 32%.
SCIENTIFIC ASSIGNMENTS WORTH KZT 67 BILLION NOT IMPLEMENTED
Auditors identified shortcomings in the formation of the state scientific order. For 2025–2027, seven priorities and 153 specialised areas were approved, which makes it possible to classify virtually any research as a priority.
At the same time, scientific and technical assignments were often drawn up without specific results, evaluation criteria or implementation mechanisms.
Of the 393 assignments envisaged for 2023–2025, 149 worth KZT 67 billion were not implemented. The reasons for the non-completion of each of them are not specified in the published materials.
COMPETITIONS DELAYED BY 208 DAYS
The audit revealed violations of the deadlines for organising scientific competitions. In 2025, they were announced with delays of up to 208 days, and the transfer of expert materials to the national scientific councils was delayed by up to 93 days.
In addition, for 545 projects, the recommendations of the economic expert review to cut funding by approximately KZT 12 billion were not taken into account.
The audit does not specify what portion of that sum was actually transferred to the recipients.
AUDITORS FOUND RISKS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The SAI devoted particular attention to the composition of the scientific councils involved in the selection of projects.
It emerged that 84 of the 225 members of the scientific councils were simultaneously members of research groups on 127 projects with total funding of KZT 52 billion.
A further 27 council members were scientific supervisors of projects.
Auditors pointed to risks of conflict of interest in the allocation of scientific funding. However, the published results do not cite specific cases of unlawful receipt of funds.
