On September 11, 2026, the Scientific and Investment Forum “Alliance of Business and Science: EU Grants for Business” was held at the International Engineering and Technological University (METU).

The Forum brought together representatives of business, science, engineering and investment communities, as well as international experts. Its key focus was on strengthening effective cooperation between science and business and expanding opportunities to attract international funding for the implementation of joint scientific, technological and innovative projects.

The Forum was attended by executives of major companies, scientists and engineers.

As part of the Forum, experts presented in detail the opportunities offered by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme, the mechanisms enabling businesses and scientific organizations to participate in international grant competitions, as well as practical approaches to building international consortia and preparing competitive project proposals.

Particular attention was paid to the commercialization of scientific developments, the search for reliable partners, investment attraction, and the establishment of sustainable cooperation between research teams, universities and the business sector.

Participants had the opportunity to communicate directly with experts, ask practical questions, and discuss the prospects for implementing their own projects and initiatives.

A separate part of the programme was dedicated to introducing representatives of the business and investment community to the METU Center for Advanced Technologies. Guests explored the Center’s infrastructure and learned about the University’s scientific and technological developments. A number of the projects presented attracted practical interest from business representatives and investors and became the basis for further discussions on potential areas of cooperation and commercialization.

More than 250 representatives of scientific organizations, higher education institutions, businesses, the investment community and public associations from Kazakhstan and other countries registered to participate in the Forum.

The event was held in a hybrid format, allowing participants to join both in person and online.

The Scientific and Investment Forum became a practical platform for establishing new professional and business contacts, exchanging international experience, identifying potential partners, and developing joint initiatives in the fields of science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Forum once again demonstrated the significant potential of bringing science and business together to implement promising projects, attract international grants, and introduce scientific developments into the real sector of the economy.