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Central Asia Sustainable Innovation Bureau (CASIB)

About CASIB

The BMBF-funded CASIB contact office and the representative office itself were officially opened in June 2019 in the presence of the BMBF, the project management agency DLR and a high-ranking delegation from MLU.
The office is intended to make an important contribution to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals through research cooperation with the Central Asia region. At European level, the German government's Central Asia strategy and at German level the German government's internationalization strategy provide the framework for our activities.
The Central Asian states are of particular geopolitical importance due to their geographical location, rich natural resources and as a “hot spot” for climate change. This is accompanied by a great interest in research and innovation cooperation, which has increased further in the context of the proclaimed “turnaround”. The Federal Government is addressing this with its Internationalization Strategy for the Internationalization of Education, Science and Research - Guidelines for the Promotion of Projects in Research and Innovation Cooperation with the Countries of the Eastern Partnership and Central Asia. The further development of research and innovation cooperation is seen as an essential contribution to supporting the civil society, economic and ecological development of these countries, which strengthens common values and promotes reform processes.

The main objectives of the office in this context include intensifying scientific and research cooperation between German and Central Asian partners to support reform processes in the context of ecological, economic and social transformation towards sustainable development

What does CASIB do?

• On-site support for the BMBF in its cooperation with Central Asia
• Networking of projects and institutions operating in Central Asia with German funding in the fields of research & development and education
• Creation of an exchange platform for Germany's university cooperation with Central Asia at MLU in Halle
• Communication of international cooperation with Central Asia in the German research landscape in order to make successful projects visible, open up exchange opportunities for new cooperation with the region and attract young researchers in Germany
• Supporting project alliances, institutions and companies in cooperating with institutions in the region, making project results visible and communicating science as well as public relations work
• Coordination of overarching networking and transfer activities in and between the republics of Central Asia (and Mongolia)
• Development of a concept for the continuation of the CASIB office after the end of BMBF funding

What services do we offer as the MLU Representative Office and CASIB?

• Advising and informing students and lecturers about the special features of the higher education landscape in Germany and the Central Asian countries as well as existing funding opportunities (individually or at events such as conferences and trade fairs)
• Support for university cooperation
• Organization of the Central Asia Forum in Halle

Participation in the German-Kazakh University Rectors' Conference in Astana

Research advice and support

• Advice and information on research opportunities in Central Asia
• Preparation of funding measures
• Support in initiating projects (identifying suitable partner institutions, providing information on funding opportunities, etc.)
• Promoting the visibility of research projects
• Support for project implementation (from implementation (coordination) to long-term implementation via capacity building, commercialization, etc.)
• Support for project networking and knowledge transfer
• Support for capacity building

Support for a DFG exploration trip through Central Asia (Liebelt 2024)

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