Key factors in personnel training include infrastructure, funding, and the modern organization of research institutes (RIs) and research centers (RCs), as well as their integration at the international level. Professor and former Minister of Health Talantbek Batyraliev emphasized the importance of medical science for the development of the scientific intelligentsia in an interview.
In his opinion, it is important to move forward and not dwell on past achievements.
"How to Reorganize Rabkrin" is a work by V.I. Lenin, in which he discusses the necessity of combating bureaucratism and the risk of party fragmentation through the establishment of connections between party and state control bodies (the Workers' and Peasants' Inspection and the Central Control Commission).
This work reminds us of the need for reforms in modern science, especially in Kyrgyzstan.
The first step towards reforming science should be the creation of a clear concept. Comparing oneself to the USA or Germany is impractical due to their scale. However, countries like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, despite their small territory, have managed to develop their unique strategies in the fields of science and high technology.
Japan is considered one of the leading countries in the scientific field. In 1995, the Basic Law on Science and Technology was adopted, allowing the government to approve five-year "Basic Plans for Scientific and Technological Development." In April 2021, an updated version of this law came into effect, which continues to support Japan's high positions in various fields, including high technology, automotive engineering, energy conservation, robotics, medicine, and space research. It is important for Kyrgyzstan to note such areas as high technology, energy conservation, robotics, and medicine.
South Korea (Republic of Korea) is also known for its successes in science and technology. The country actively invests in research to create technologies of the future.
Some key aspects of South Korea's state policy in this area include:
Investment in large research infrastructures. The government has developed two "roadmaps" to strengthen the country's positions in science and technology.
Support for strategic technologies. Experts have identified 120 technologies that are critical for the country, including semiconductors, battery technology, and autonomous vehicles.
Attracting foreign research centers. In 2004, the Korean Foundation for International Cooperation in Science and Technology (KICOS) was established to make the country a scientific center of Northeast Asia.
Participation in international scientific infrastructures, such as CERN and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory.
Singapore also occupies an important place in global science due to the development of education, research, and funding for scientific activities. The country aims to become one of the centers of scientific achievements, largely due to international cooperation.
Education
Focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The government is forming a personnel reserve for high-tech industries, for example, the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) program aims for continuous skills development for workers.
Application of the Singapore teaching method, which is based on in-depth study of mathematics and other subjects, and is used in all schools in the country.
Orientation towards international standards — the Ministry of Education of Singapore studies best practices from other countries and adopts them.
Research
Development of biomedical sciences, for example, the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) has achieved success in gene engineering for cancer treatment using stem cells.
Creation of IT ecosystems, such as Punggol Digital District and Singapore Science Park, which unite startups and research institutes.
Infrastructure
Research institutes of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), which focus on research aimed at economic growth.
Research-intensive universities focusing on scientific research to create a foundation of fundamental knowledge.
Scientific medical centers and hospitals focused on clinical research and corporate laboratories.
Funding
State regulation: A*STAR is responsible for grants, scholarships, and paid internships, as well as contracts with the private sector. Priority areas are funded through its two divisions — Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC).
Private funding: despite the existence of state programs, the R&D sector in Singapore largely depends on private investments. In 2021, private sector funding in engineering fields amounted to 7 billion Singapore dollars (about 5 billion USD), which is nearly 7 times higher than government investments.
International cooperation: Singapore actively participates in international scientific projects and promotes ideas of collaboration.
These aspects are important for analysis and should be studied carefully.
Discussing the personnel issue in science, it becomes clear that it requires special attention.
The current situation in the scientific field of Kyrgyzstan shows that there are persistent structural constraints hindering its development.
One of the reasons is the low prestige of scientific activity and inadequate salary levels.
Salaries for researchers and university teachers do not match market conditions, which reduces the motivation to engage in science. A scientific career is perceived as unattractive, which hinders the influx of young specialists.
The current practice, where grants go to cover the entire administration, leaving only a small portion for the executors, deters participation in grant and project competitions. It is necessary to stipulate in the statutory documents of RIs and universities a prohibition on funding those who are not related to the projects, as well as clearly define the roles of participants to exclude the involvement of outsiders.
International grants should be addressed to specific groups of researchers with the indication of all candidates.
Mechanisms are needed to support researchers working on topics not included in state programs, so that they can receive non-governmental grants and participate in international projects.
An important aspect is the modernization of the science funding system, with a clear definition of the topics of state programs that will receive stable funding.
To improve management in science, it is necessary to conduct international consulting that will exclude the influence of interested parties on the analysis.
Leading global consulting companies offer services in strategic consulting and a wide range of services, including management and financial consulting.
The National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic (NAS KR) needs clear regulations on the timeframes for reviewing dissertations and the certification for academic titles.
It is necessary to introduce the titles of senior researcher and leading researcher in RIs and RCs, equivalent in status to associate professor and professor. The mechanism for their assignment should be comparable to the assignment of titles in universities.
The process of submitting documents for academic degrees needs to be simplified, making checklists short and clear, as well as establishing regulations on the timeframes for their review.
Regarding the personnel potential of science, it is necessary to reform the NAS KR, where many professors do not have modern publications. The list of such scientists who have not presented new works for more than 10 years should be reviewed.
Younger scientists under 50 years old with PhDs should be attracted to the NAS KR, who will be awarded the title of "Professor of NAS KR" for active scientific work, and later they can become members of the Academy.
Attracting talented Kyrgyz citizens working abroad, as well as foreign scientists willing to work in the country, is an important step for the Academy.
However, the Academy of Sciences needs an independent assessment of its activities and international consulting to enhance efficiency. These processes require significant costs but can lead to positive changes.
It is important to conduct an international audit of the NAS KR and attract world experts to analyze its work.
The issues of digitizing science require attention, as slow internet limits the development of scientific research. It is necessary to accelerate access to global data.
Digitization of science should become a priority for modernizing the scientific system of Kyrgyzstan, which will enhance the efficiency of research and integration into the global scientific community.
The foundation of this process will be the creation of a common digital environment in the country, including new fiber-optic lines and data centers.
Regarding integration into the global scientific environment, it is necessary to improve access to international science, including placing Kyrgyz scientific journals on international platforms.
Creating a transparent scientific environment is essential for the development of science in the country. As long as behind-the-scenes negotiations continue, there will be no progress.
