Scientists from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University at the International Forum on Innovation and Development of Bioindustry (Tianjin, China)

From November 9 to 10, 2023, the “International Forum on Innovation and Development of Bioindustry” was held in Tianjin (China, Tianjin), sponsored by the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB CAS), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the National Innovation Center for Synthetic Biotechnology, Belt and Road Alliance of International Scientific Organizations (ANSO) and the Southern Committee for the Sustainable Development of Science and Technology (COMSATS).

The theme of the international forum is “Sharing advanced achievements in the field of biotechnology and promoting the prosperity of the global bioeconomy.” Biomanufacturing is an advanced industrial model based on industrial biotechnology, showing great potential in creating green and low-carbon industrial production routes and managing climate change. Industrial biotechnology has become an important force supporting high-quality and sustainable economic and social development and aimed at achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This event was attended by more than 300 people from almost 20 countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, including Germany, Denmark, Singapore, Belarus, Pakistan, Iran, as well as heads of international scientific and technical organizations, academics and experts from developing countries. From Kazakhstan, scientists from the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology and the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University participated in the international forum.

Al-Farabi KazNU, represented by the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology and the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, joined the Biotechnology Industry Alliance on April 14, 2021, and is a member of the Joint Center for Industrial Biotechnology COMSATS (CCIB), which includes universities and research institutes from 27 countries. CCIB strives to effectively address the challenges of poverty, hunger and food insecurity, disease, energy crises and environmental challenges through approaches that promote collaborative research and development, academic exchanges, staff training, science and technology advisory services and technology transfer among countries COMSATS members to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As members of the Biotechnology Industry Alliance, scientists from the our two faculties are actively collaborating with scientists from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB CAS). They are currently conducting joint research in the field of Bio-Agriculture with financial support from the Tianjin SynBio program.

Thus, at the international forum, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Biotechnology B.K. Zayadan presented the report on the topic “Promising phototrophic microorganisms and their biotechnological potential for bioproduction.”

He is a member of the Advisory Committee of the COMSATS Joint Center for Industrial Biotechnology (CCIB). At the opening ceremony of the forum, the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology solemnly presented Professor B.K. Zayadan with a certificate of appointment as a Visiting Professor.

Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology for Scientific-Innovative Activities and International Cooperation, Ph.D., Associate Professor Sadvakasova A.K., being a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Joint Center for Industrial Biotechnology COMSATS and a fellow of the "Belt and Road" young talent program actively collaborates with scientists from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB CAS) in the development and research of synthetic microbial fertilizers. Her report at the international forum on the topic “The potential of phototrophic microorganisms to achieve carbon neutrality and the production of bioproducts” revealed the main key points of using microalgae and cyanobacteria to reduce the carbon footprint, including the production of various types of biological fuels based on them and the development of offset projects aimed at obtaining environmentally friendly bioproducts.

Director of the Scientific Research Center for Medicinal Plants of KazNU named after. Al-Farabi, professor of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology Zhenis Zhanar is also a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Joint Center for Industrial Biotechnology COMSATS. Her report was on the topic “Phytochemical and pharmacological studies of plant resources of Kazakhstan.” During the report, Zhenis Zhanar introduced the scientific work of the Center, said that on the basis of the Research Center of Medicinal Plants of NJSC Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, small-scale production of innovative products based on plant raw materials was opened and pilot batches of biologically active additives and herbal teas. Currently, work is underway on state registration and declaration of conformity of products. Professor Zhenis Zhanar also proposed joint further scientific work, bilateral training of young specialists and joint development of the production of innovative products based on plant raw materials.

　As part of the forum, the second meeting of the members of the Advisory and Technical Committee of the Joint Center for Industrial Biotechnology COMSATS was held. During this meeting the Vice-President of the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB CAS), Professor Jinbin Sun presented a report on the results of two years of work of the CCIB, which was completed by an interesting discussion further improving collaboration on innovation in biomanufacturing, with a focus on joint research and industrial cooperation. The joint implementation of scientific projects within the framework of interstate target programs allows us to deepen and expand our interaction, as well as implement mutually beneficial projects in the field of high technologies and obtain great results and opportunities for their implementation in the field of high technologies.