NU SEDS 2nd Annual Research Conference
Transforming the Future of Engineering and Digital Sciences Research in Central Asia
April 9-10, 2026
April 9-10, 2026
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Welcome to the NU SEDS Annual Research Conference!
As a part of Nazarbayev University's 15th-year celebrations, we are excited to welcome you to the 2nd NU SEDS Annual Research Conference – "Transforming the Future of Engineering and Digital Sciences Research in Central Asia" – taking place on April 9-10, 2026. As in previous years, the event will be dedicated to celebrating Kazakhstan Science Workers' Day on April 12, honoring the vital contributions of scientists and researchers in Kazakhstan.
The Second Annual School of Engineering and Digital Sciences Research Conference is a significant event that brings together prominent researchers, academicians, and students. The conference theme, “Transforming the Future of Engineering and Digital Sciences Research in Central Asia” emphasizes the collaborative spirit that fosters research, creativity, and advancement.
The Conference focuses on five strategic research and development directions of SEDS to cultivate an intellectually stimulating environment aimed at developing collaborative solutions to the present and future challenges facing Central Asia:
- Energy, Materials and Sustainability
- Communications, Computation and Data Analytics
- Sustainability and the Built Environment
- Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
- Advanced Technologies for Manufacturing, Agriculture, Mining and Health
This multidisciplinary two days Conference offers insightful plenary sessions from distinguished speakers, enlightening debate by global and local experts, industry engagement, poster exhibition, 7MR competition, SEDS research excellence awards, workshops and talks by esteemed researchers.
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
The Conference will feature distinguished keynote sessions, each dedicated to one of our five core research priorities.
Contribute to research discussions shaping Kazakhstan’s engineering future.
Join us at the NU Research Poster Exhibition to explore the latest research findings from Kazakhstan’s scientists and engineers.
Experience how graduate and undergraduate students present their scientific research in just seven minutes
Discover how to plan and structure scientific papers for successful publication
Meet distinguished keynote speakers
The Conference will feature distinguished keynote sessions, each dedicated to one of our five core research priorities.
- Dr. Hafiz Muhammad AliDistinguished Associate Professor and Director of Renewable Energy LaboratoryKing Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
- Dr. Igor AronsonHuck Chair Professor and Director of the Center for Mathematics of Living and Mimetic SystemsPennsylvania State University
- Prof. Zhai QianAssociate Professor in Civil EngineeringSoutheast University
- Prof. Long KongProfessor of Institute of Flexible ElectronicsNorthwestern Polytechnical University
- Dr. Volodymyr TarabaraProfessor of Civil and Environmental EngineeringMichigan State University
- Prof. Slava RotkinProfessor of Engineering Science & MechanicsPenn State University
- Prof. Michael Zhengmeng HouProfessor of Rock Mechanics
Clausthal University of Technology - Prof. Mark HalliwellChief Audit Engineer, Technical & Safety Assurance of Rolls-Royce
Cranfield University - Prof. Tony McNallyChair Professor of Nanocomposites, founder and first Director of the
International Institute for Nanocomposites ManufacturingUniversity of Warwick
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Contribute to research discussions shaping Kazakhstan’s engineering future.
PANEL 1:
AI-Driven Transport Models and Their Role in Sustainable Urban Planning and City Traffic Management in Kazakhstan
Date: 09 April 2026
Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Venue: Ballroom Right
AI-Driven Transport Models and Their Role in Sustainable Urban Planning and City Traffic Management in Kazakhstan
Date: 09 April 2026
Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Venue: Ballroom Right
Join leading voices from industry and academia for a high-level roundtable examining how artificial intelligence can transform traffic management and support sustainable urban mobility in Kazakhstan.
This panel will spotlight cutting-edge perspectives on:
This panel will spotlight cutting-edge perspectives on:
- AI-driven traffic modeling for forecasting demand and optimizing network performance
- AI-driven traffic prediction and congestion reduction
- Smart traffic control systems and real-time data integration
- Enhancing road safety through intelligent monitoring
- Optimizing public transport and multimodal mobility
- Data-informed urban planning for rapidly growing cities
- Aibol NsanovCEO
KazAeroSpace
Panelist - Serik NurmetovFounder and Director,
Innovation Consulting Group
Panelist - Alua KulmurzinaProject Manager,
Universal Tech Decisions LLP (UTD)
Panelist - Adiya KarsybekNational Urban
Planning Consultant,
UNDP
Panelist - Daulet AspanbetovCo-Founder and Director of
R&D Innovation Consulting Group
Panelist - Annie NgAssociate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Nazarbayev University
Moderator
PANEL 2:
From Lab to Clinic: Building the Center of Excellence in Medical Robotics and Research in Kazakhstan
Date: 10 April 2026
Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Venue: Senate Hall
From Lab to Clinic: Building the Center of Excellence in Medical Robotics and Research in Kazakhstan
Date: 10 April 2026
Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Venue: Senate Hall
Join leading clinicians and rehabilitation practitioners from Astana together with Nazarbayev University to discuss how medical robotics research can move from laboratory prototypes to real clinical deployment in Kazakhstan.
This industry engagement session explores how the Center of Excellence in Medical Robotics and Rehabilitation (CEMRR) can serve as a national platform for collaboration between universities, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private clinics.
This panel will spotlight applied perspectives on:
- Clinical needs and unmet challenges in traumatology and rehabilitation
- Translating robotic prototypes into clinically usable devices
- Requirements for clinical trials, safety, and ethics approval
- Industry–academia collaboration models in Kazakhstan
- Pathways for technology transfer, piloting, and co-development
- Training clinicians and therapists to adopt robotic technologies
- Sustainability and scaling of medical robotics solutions in hospitals and clinics
- Saya AmangeldikyzyManaging Director, Board Member National Center for Children’s Rehabilitation
Panelist - Serik MukiyevRehabilitation Physician
National Scientific Center of Traumatology and Orthopedics
Panelist - Assemgul SakhievaFounder & CEO of
Amare.kz
Panelist - Aibek NiyetkaliyevDeputy Director of CEMRR,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Robotics
Nazarbayev University
Moderator
PANEL 3:
Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Venue: Ballrooms Right
Shaping the Future of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Kazakhstan: Industry Needs and Innovation Pathways
Date: 09 April 2026Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Venue: Ballrooms Right
This high-level industry-academia panel will convene industrial leaders from world-leading global companies to discuss the future direction of mechanical and aerospace engineering in Kazakhstan.
The panel discussion will focus on aligning university education and research with current and future industry demands of strengthening innovation, in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy systems, rail transport, automation, and digital engineering. Panellists will share insights on operational excellence, technology integration, supply chain localization, sustainability, and the skills required for next-generation engineers.
By fostering direct dialogue between academia and global industry leaders, the discussion aims to identify concrete innovation pathways, strengthen partnerships, and support the development of a competitive, innovation-driven engineering ecosystem in Kazakhstan.
The panel discussion will focus on aligning university education and research with current and future industry demands of strengthening innovation, in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, energy systems, rail transport, automation, and digital engineering. Panellists will share insights on operational excellence, technology integration, supply chain localization, sustainability, and the skills required for next-generation engineers.
By fostering direct dialogue between academia and global industry leaders, the discussion aims to identify concrete innovation pathways, strengthen partnerships, and support the development of a competitive, innovation-driven engineering ecosystem in Kazakhstan.
- Guillaume HoetzelChief Operations Officer
Airbus Helicopters Kazakhstan
Panelist - Pierre LutzIndustrial Director
Alstom
Panelist - Aksel SchmidtOperations Director
Air Liquide
Panelist - Professor Essam ShehabHead of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Nazarbayev University
Moderator
PANEL 4:
Planning and Construction of Infrastructures in Kazakhstan
Date: 09 April 2026
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Venue: Ballroom Right
Planning and Construction of Infrastructures in Kazakhstan
Date: 09 April 2026
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Venue: Ballroom Right
This session explores the strategic evolution of Kazakhstan’s physical and digital landscape through the lens of the world’s leading infrastructure pioneers. As Kazakhstan targets carbon neutrality by 2060 and mandates Digital Twin/BIM technologies for 2026, the intersection of traditional civil engineering and advanced digital sciences has never been more critical.
Representatives from China Energy Engineering Corporation, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, and Beijing Urban Construction Design & Development Group will discuss the complexities of large-scale project delivery in Central Asia. The panel will delve into the "Middle Corridor" logistics, the shift toward green energy infrastructure (solar and wind), and the implementation of smart city technologies within the Kazakhstani context. Attendees will gain insights into how international expertise is being localized to build a resilient, sustainable, and technologically integrated future for the Republic.
Representatives from China Energy Engineering Corporation, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, and Beijing Urban Construction Design & Development Group will discuss the complexities of large-scale project delivery in Central Asia. The panel will delve into the "Middle Corridor" logistics, the shift toward green energy infrastructure (solar and wind), and the implementation of smart city technologies within the Kazakhstani context. Attendees will gain insights into how international expertise is being localized to build a resilient, sustainable, and technologically integrated future for the Republic.
- Jared ChanCommercial Manager
Astana Light Rail (Phase I) Project, China State Construction Bridge Corp., LTD, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC)
Panelist - Yihao XuKazakhstan Country Manager
China Energy Engineering Group Guangdong Power Engineering Co., Ltd, China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC)
Panelist - Xing XingSenior Engineer / Project Manager, Beijing Urban Construction Design & Development Group (UCD)
Panelist - Dr. Alfrendo SatyanagaAssociate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Nazarbayev Univeristy
Moderator
PANEL 5:
Bridging the Gap: Industry–Academia Collaboration in Chemical and Materials Engineering in Central Asia
Date: 10 April 2026
Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Venue: Green Hall
Bridging the Gap: Industry–Academia Collaboration in Chemical and Materials Engineering in Central Asia
Date: 10 April 2026
Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Venue: Green Hall
This session examines the strategic transformation of Kazakhstan’s industrial and research landscape through collaboration between leading chemical engineering firms and academia. As a resource-rich nation, Kazakhstan’s transition toward high-value manufacturing depends on integrating rigorous academic research with scalable industrial deployment in Energy, Materials, and Sustainability.
Industry leaders from China National Chemical Engineering International Corporation Limited, Maire Integrated E&C Solutions, Samruk-Kazyna Ondeu LLP, and 1Thirty Holding, alongside academic experts, will discuss aligning R&D priorities with regional industrial strategy. The panel will address joint innovation frameworks, technology localization, and pathways to commercialize high-impact research. Participants will gain insight into how cross-sector collaboration can accelerate economic diversification and support a resilient, carbon-neutral, and technologically integrated future for Kazakhstan.
Industry leaders from China National Chemical Engineering International Corporation Limited, Maire Integrated E&C Solutions, Samruk-Kazyna Ondeu LLP, and 1Thirty Holding, alongside academic experts, will discuss aligning R&D priorities with regional industrial strategy. The panel will address joint innovation frameworks, technology localization, and pathways to commercialize high-impact research. Participants will gain insight into how cross-sector collaboration can accelerate economic diversification and support a resilient, carbon-neutral, and technologically integrated future for Kazakhstan.
- Hongyue DuanDirector of Technical Development Department, China National Chemical Engineering International Corporation Limited
Panelist - Niccoló HeilpernVice President
Tecnimont, Maire Integrated E&C Solutions
Panelist - Altynai SharipovaHead of Science
Samruk-Kazyna Ondeu LLP
Panelist - Askar JumabayevChief Business Development Officer, 1Thirty Holding
PANEL 6:
Trustworthy & Responsible AI
Date: 09 April 2026
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Venue: Ballroom Right
Trustworthy & Responsible AI
Date: 09 April 2026
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Venue: Ballroom Right
This panel will spotlight perspectives on:
- From accuracy to responsibility: what does "Trustworthy AI" actually mean?
- Explainability vs. performance: Are we still asking the right questions?
- Who is responsible when AI fails? Engineers, institutions, or the models themselves?
- Can AI be regulated without stifling innovation?
- Auditable AI systems: what will regulators' requirements be in 5 years?
- Almas MirzakhmetovComputer Engineer,
AI-focused software developer
SquidApp
Panelist - Jose BerengueresAssociate Professor, Department of Computer Science
Nazarbayev Univeristy
Panelist - Amina BaikenovaActing Deputy Director of
Product and External Affairs
Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence
Nazarbayev University
Panelist - Hari Mohan RaiAssistant Professor, Department of Computer Science
Nazarbayev Univeristy
Panelist - Talgar BayanPostdoctoral Researcher
Nazarbayev University
Panelist - Anwar GhaniAssistant Professor, Department of Computer Science
Nazarbayev University
Moderator
7-Minute Research (7MR) Competition:
Inspiring research, empowering minds, shaping societal impact
Inspiring research, empowering minds, shaping societal impact
7MR, developed by Prof. Shazim Memon, would be held for the first time at Nazarbayev University during the 2nd NU SEDS Annual Research Conference planned on April 9-10, 2026. The concept was approved by the SEDS Research Committee. The idea behind the concept is to allow graduate and undergraduate students to showcase their research in 7 minutes. This event aims to enhance research communication skills among university students, evaluate the societal impact of scholarly work, and promote research culture in Kazakhstan and beyond.
For more information, please visit 7MR page.
For more information, please visit 7MR page.
- Graduate and Undergraduate students (National and International) currently enrolled at any university in Kazakhstan are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must confirm that the submitted research work is conducted by them and complies with academic integrity standards.
- In the first round, students are required to prepare a 7-minute video presentation of their research and submit it for review by the Committee. Seven shortlisted candidates will be selected to present their work (offline) during the finale scheduled for April 9-10, 2026, at Nazarbayev University.
- In case the shortlisted candidate is unable to participate, the next candidate in line will advance to the finale.
- The presentation should be delivered in English.
- The maximum number of slides should be limited to 7 slides.
- Presenters exceeding 7 minutes will be disqualified.
- For the competition, participants are required to use the presentation template provided.
- For the first round, please submit a 7-minute video-presentation using the required PPT template. The video should clearly show both the slides and the speaker. Please see the example.
The SEDS will select and make the decision regarding members of the judging panel.
- First Prize (prize package valued at up to 300,000 KZT)
- Runner-Up (prize package valued at up to 150,000 KZT)
- Best Undergraduate Researcher (prize package valued at up to 75,000 KZT)
- Best Societal Impact (prize package valued at up to 75,000 KZT)
- People’s choice award (prize package valued at up to 100,000 KZT) (Audience voted)
Summary and Timeline
January
January
SEDS announces call for 7MR competition
March 15
March 15
1st round - students submit their application form with a link to their 7MR video for review
March 31
March 31
Announcement of 7MR Finalists
April 6
April 6
Submission of ppt slides by the 7MR Finalists
April 9-10
April 9-10
7MR Final Competition
April 9-10
April 9-10
Winners of the 7MR Competition will receive certificates and awards during the SEDS Annual conference
| Research Poster Exhibition We are excited to welcome you to the Research Poster Exhibition where researchers from Kazakhstan are invited to display their latest research findings. Five templates have been designed to align with the SEDS Research Directions. Submit your poster
|
SEDS Student Research Excellence Awards
SEDS Research Awards are given to SEDS students (graduate and undergraduate) to honor and recognize students' achievements. The award would be given to students for publishing in the top 10% of journals* (https://www.scopus.com/sources). To qualify for the award, the student must be the lead author**. For students publishing multiple papers in the top 10% of journals, only one research award will be given. Please note that the paper must be published during the year 2025 and the student’s affiliation must be with NU. The deadline for submission is March 10, 2026.
Please complete the form available at the following link.
Notes:
* The latest SCOPUS journal ranking would be used to find the top 10% journals.
** The co-authors (e.g., second or third authors) are also eligible for the research award if, in the published manuscript, it is clearly stated that these authors have equally contributed as the lead author.
Workshop series
Dr.Gulsim Kulsharova
Format: 40-minute offline workshop
Audience: PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, early-career academics
Audience: PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, early-career academics
Gallery
Contact us:
Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences
Astana city, Republic of Kazakhstan, 10 000
53, Kabanbay Batyr avenue, block 3