Ualikhanov University Hosts Horizon Europe Proposal Development Bootcamp

From 22 to 25 June, Ualikhanov University hosted the Horizon Europe Proposal Development Bootcamp, a four-day intensive training program designed to equip researchers with the skills needed to develop competitive proposals for Horizon Europe, the European Union's flagship research and innovation funding programme.

Throughout the Bootcamp, participants explored the structure of Horizon Europe, learned to navigate the Funding & Tenders Portal, gained practical insights into building international research consortia, and developed proposal-writing skills, with particular emphasis on the Excellence and Impact sections. The programme concluded with presentations of project concepts in the fields of digital education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, natural resource management, and social sciences and humanities.

The Bootcamp was led by Aizhan Samambayeva, PhD, National Contact Point for Horizon Europe (Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space) and an international expert in European research programmes with more than 15 years of experience in developing grant proposals and managing international research and innovation projects.

The training comes at a particularly important time. During the recent official visit of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, held high-level discussions with European partners on expanding cooperation under the Horizon Europe programme. The initiative is expected to create new opportunities for Kazakhstani universities, research institutions, and technology companies to join international research consortia, participate in collaborative projects, and access European research funding.

Against this backdrop, strengthening researchers' capacity to participate in Horizon Europe has become an increasingly important priority for universities across Kazakhstan. The Bootcamp at Ualikhanov University provided participants not only with a comprehensive understanding of European grant requirements, but also with the opportunity to refine their own project ideas, identify potential international partners, and develop practical roadmaps for future grant applications. The final project presentations laid the groundwork for the university's future participation in Horizon Europe calls and international research collaborations.By hosting initiatives such as the Horizon Europe Proposal Development Bootcamp, Ualikhanov University continues to strengthen its international research profile, expand global academic partnerships, and support its researchers in developing internationally competitive projects that contribute to the global scientific community.