On January 9, 2026, a ceremonial signing of the Memorandum on the establishment of the first Institute of Transport Sciences and Technologies (ITST) in Kazakhstan took place at ALT University named after Mukhametzhan Tynyshpaev. The Institute is being created under the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chair of the Board – Rector of ALT University named after Mukhametzhan Tynyshpaev, Meruert Zharmagambetova, described the signing of the Memorandum as a significant milestone in the development of national transport science and an event of nationwide importance. According to the Rector, it is a great honor for ALT University to become the core platform for the implementation of this strategic project and a sign of high trust from the academic community.
“The new Institute will become not just a scientific structure, but a full-fledged innovation ecosystem where science is closely integrated with practice, and research outcomes are aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s transport system,” Meruert Zharmagambetova emphasized.
A speech was also delivered by the President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Academician Akhylbek Kazhigulovich Kurishbayev. He noted that the initiative to establish the Institute fully aligns with the strategic course set by the Head of State.
In his public speeches and interviews, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has repeatedly emphasized that the development of the transport and logistics sector is one of the key national priorities. According to him, Kazakhstan’s geographical position at the center of Eurasia is a serious competitive advantage, while investments in transport infrastructure represent an investment in the future of the country and the next generations.
Academician Kurishbayev also reported that, on the basis of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, within the framework of the International Joint Laboratory of Spatio-Temporal Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development—established jointly with academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Zhejiang University of Technology—broad implementation of artificial intelligence methods, geographic information systems, and predictive modeling is planned. These solutions will be aimed at the intellectual and logistical development of the transport system, optimization of transport flows, and enhancement of the safety and efficiency of Kazakhstan’s transit transport infrastructure.
Academician Bagdat Burkhanbayuly Teltaev, a leading expert in the field of transport, was appointed as the Head of the Institute of Transport Sciences and Technologies. In his speech, he emphasized that the Institute’s activities will focus on ensuring the sustainable operation and development of Kazakhstan’s transport system.
Among the key priorities are increasing the durability of transport facilities and implementing effective models for managing transport infrastructure. Special attention will be paid to the development of new materials and technologies, issues of climate adaptation of transport facilities, and reducing structural damage under increasing load conditions.
It is expected that the Institute’s work will lead to longer service life of transport facilities, improved efficiency of the transport sector, expansion of the country’s transit potential, and the formation of a flexible, modern, and efficient logistics system.
As part of the event, speeches were also delivered by Hero of Labor of Kazakhstan, Honorary Railway Worker K.S. Sambetov, and Honored Figure of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Professor B.S. Murtazin. Participants familiarized themselves with the university’s research infrastructure and discussed prospects for the development of applied transport science.
The establishment of the first Institute of Transport Sciences and Technologies in Kazakhstan has become an important step toward forming a scientific foundation for the transport industry, strengthening the country’s transit and logistics potential, and integrating science with the real sector of the economy.
