On 1 June 2026, the Days of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in the Republic of Kazakhstan began in Astana. The event is aimed at deepening scientific and technical cooperation between JINR and Kazakhstani research centres. The JINR Days are timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Astana Branch of the Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy and the 70th anniversary of the Joint Institute.
Photo: Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The official programme included meetings between JINR leadership and representatives of the Republic’s government bodies and scientific institutions. The Joint Institute’s delegation headed by Director of JINR, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Grigory Trubnikov visited the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy and held negotiations with Agency Chair Almasadam Sätqaliev. The parties noted the high potential for expanding scientific and technical cooperation in materials science, nuclear medicine, industrial applications of nuclear technologies, and research reactor development.
Collaboration in science and education was the main discussion topic at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Special attention at the meeting with Vice Minister of Science Gulzat Kobenova was paid to implementing dual degree programmes, expanding the participation of Kazakhstani universities and research institutes in JINR’s advanced projects, and the issues of training highly qualified personnel for the national atomic industry.
A key event was the delegation’s visit to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where Grigory Trubnikov met with the Deputy Prime Minister – Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balaeva. The parties discussed in detail the progress and strategic prospects of bilateral scientific and technological cooperation, confirming mutual interest in implementing joint projects and strengthening human resource potential.
In the second half of the day, the Joint Institute’s delegation visited the Astana INP Branch, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The Dubna delegation got introduced to the scientific centre’s advanced infrastructure and toured the hall of the DC-60 Heavy Ion Cyclotron Complex – a facility designed and constructed with a key role of JINR scientists and engineers.
As part of the JINR Days educational programme, the Summer School of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is taking place at the Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Leading JINR specialists are introducing the Republic’s schoolchildren, students, and young researchers to modern science and the Institute’s research infrastructure.
The JINR Days in Kazakhstan will run until 3 June. The key event on 2 June was a plenary session with presentations on fundamental science development prospects by representatives of JINR, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and Belarusian State University. The JINR Days are expected to lay a solid groundwork for the successful implementation of future joint projects between Kazakhstan and the Member States of the Joint Institute.
