Kazakhstan to establish science hubs for nuclear energy and medicine
New centers in Almaty and Kurchatov aim to advance nuclear power, healthcare technology, and reduce reliance on uranium exports
ALMATY, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan is launching two new scientific hubs that will combine nuclear energy research with medical innovation, part of a strategy to move beyond its role as the world’s largest uranium exporter.
According to The Times of Central Asia, the projects branded as “science cities,” will be based in Almaty and Kurchatov. In Almaty, the existing Institute of Nuclear Physics will serve as the nucleus for a multipurpose reactor and training facilities, while the Kurchatov site in eastern Kazakhstan will bring together the Academy of Sciences, the National Nuclear Center, and regional authorities.
The program follows a 2024 referendum in which voters endorsed nuclear power for the first time since independence. That public mandate paved the way for the government’s decision to award the first plant to Russia’s Rosatom, with two more expected in partnership with China’s state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Their construction is seen as the opening phase of a long-term nuclear strategy.
Officials argue that Kazakhstan cannot remain only a supplier of raw uranium, which accounts for roughly 40 percent of global reserves. Instead, they want to complete the nuclear fuel cycle at home and build an industry that can sustain itself through energy generation and high-value applications.
A fuel assembly plant that came online in 2021 marked the first step toward that shift.
Healthcare is being positioned as a parallel beneficiary. Plans call for the development of radiopharmaceuticals within Kazakhstan and the creation of nuclear medicine centers to improve treatment for cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Currently, many such drugs and technologies are imported, limiting access for patients.
Developing human capital remains a critical challenge. To ease the shortage of nuclear specialists, the government has added 20 scholarships per year under its Bolashak international education program specifically for nuclear sciences.
Most of the program’s funding already supports engineering and technical disciplines, but leaders say nuclear expertise will be decisive in the next decade.
A new Nuclear Energy Agency, created in March, will oversee the sector. With the science hubs in Almaty and Kurchatov, policymakers say they hope to anchor research, industry, and education in a single framework — positioning Kazakhstan not just as a uranium supplier, but as a regional leader in nuclear technology and healthcare innovation.
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