News archive :: Year 2005
24-03-2005 06:14
Information Following the Results of Visit of CNCP-Kazakhstan Program Specialists
A visit of British specialists from CNCP to Kazakhstan is over. The CNCP Program funded by the Department of Trade and Industry of Great Britain (DTI) is aimed at limiting nuclear weapons proliferation providing former nuclear specialists with stable employment places in civilian sector. The Program in Kazakhstan is working with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan in cooperation with the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC).
"We seek to create employment in a high-technology sector of Kazakhstan. We wish to combine financial support, potential strength, training and experience exchange", said Patrick Gray, Program Manager.
There were two goals of the visit of CNCP Program representatives:
- take part in the first annual conference on a program of closed nuclear centers partnership, and
- hold a meeting with representatives of the National Nuclear Center concerning Technopark construction in Kurchatov.
1. During the conference, general principles and details of the projects offered by Kazakhstani scientists were discussed, a plan of further activities was developed, and scientists exchanged with their experience and considered requests for training in Great Britain. Within the framework of the conference, the English party presented a future training program, "in order to have an idea of the future trip", noted Patrick Gray. The issues discussed were focused on available experience in cooperation between Great Britain and Russia. "We wish to apply the experience of nonproliferation which we gained through cooperation with Russia", Patrick Grey said.
Another task of the conference was to create a system of partner relations between specialists from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Russia, and a possibility for their communication. As an example, representatives of the institutes of Nuclear Physics from Almaty, Tashkent and Kharkov Physics and Technology Institute exchanged with experience and found a common ground in production of thin beryllium foil.
Three projects were of the greatest interest for British specialists. The first project refers to production of medical hydrogel bandages to be used for burn patients when skin damage is significant. These patients are of primary concern for physicians as such burns cannot be hidden with bandages. At the same time, it is dangerous to leave the wounds as they are because of danger of injection. The gel proposed served as a bandage lets the air through and has curing properties and allows curing process to be visible. The second project refers to neutron-activation analysis of different materials for an industry. This method has fast response in detecting different elements starting with lithium and ending with uranium. The third project refers to production of radioactive sources for applying them in medicine and industry.
Beginning with April 1, the work under these projects will start resulting in a market study and business-plan design. Once all preparatory studies on Kazakhstani market are finished, English specialists will make a decision on funding the projects and also consider the training of Kazakhstani nuclear specialists involved in the projects. Business administration and management programs are planned to be used for training through Kazakhstani centers with the use of British Open University materials.
2. CNCP specialists had a meeting with designers of the Kurchatov Nuclear Technologies Park Project. The British plan to assist in market studies of the project, as they have tested a similar model in Russia in the past.
At the same time with preparing the construction of nuclear technologies park in Kurchatov as well as a special economic area, for about a year, NNC specialists have been negotiating with CNCP to get assistance from British experts. The assistance may include training on how to perform marketing study, feasibility study, and business planning.
Having worked for many decades for one customer in complete confidentiality and isolation, people and institutes of the former scientific centers have very small experience in commercial activities. That is why great efforts in work with CNCP will be made to develop entrepreneurial abilities and skills of scientists and former weapon-specialists.
The British program will be focused particularly on financing of the studies, developments, production and services in a civilian sector. These studies and developments (taking into account knowledge, experience and resources of the former closed cities) may serve as a base to create stable jobs and to promote vital enterprises. Primary efforts will be aimed at developing possibilities for commercialization of such products and services in cooperation with British and other international partners. The project will include a limited number of theoretical studies and basically have practical application of techniques developed by the nuclear specialists. "Besides, we plan to train scientists from Kurchatov in general management and project managing", added Patrik Grey.
The total CNCP budget in the ending fiscal year for three countries - Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine was about 1 million USD, 1/3 of this sum was spent for Kazakhstan. In the next fiscal year, the funding is planned to be increased up to 1,5 million USD, and again 1/3 of this sum will be allocated for Kazakhstan. "You would better stop me in the future so that I will not give all assigned 1,5 million to Kazakhstan - so interesting your projects are", said Patrik Grey.
Information was submitted by Natalya Zhdanova,
Executive Director of Nuclear Community, Kazakhstan