Commercialization of University Developments: Case of Kazakhstan

The article discusses the main problems and opportunities for commercialization and transfer of university developments to industry in the modern legal field in Kazakhstan. The purpose of the work is to study the commercialization process at the present stage, as well as to identify opportunities for developing university-industry interaction in Kazakhstan. The necessity of interaction between science, business and industry for the commercial implementation of university scientific research is substantiated. Changes in recent years in the organizational and legal framework for commercialization, facilitating the implementation of scientific research results were observed. The mechanisms and results of the main government programs to support the commercialization of scientific developments, including joint ones with foreign development institutions, are considered. The indicators of R&D expenditures and share of innovative products in GDP as well as patent activity of applicants from Kazakhstan was assessed. The dynamics of Kazakhstan's position in the Global Innovation Index by pillars of Innovation inputs and Innovation outputs were determined. Using a SWOT analysis, the strengths and weaknesses of the commercialization process, as well as opportunities and threats, were identified. Based on the research, the article proposes an organizational and financial mechanism for interaction between a university and industrial enterprises with the participation of a venture fund and the redistribution of financial resources from subsoil users to increase the commercialization of university projects. Despite the proposed mechanisms of “university-business” interaction”, further research is needed into the factors influencing all participants in the innovation process, as well as the possibilities of universities in the context of obtaining autonomy and organizing their own small innovative enterprises. Received: 21 September 2024 / Accepted: 4 February 2025 / Published: 06 March 2025