Kazakhstan has become the leader of Central Asia in the SCImago global ranking of scientific activity

Kazakhstan has confirmed its leading position in the scientific field among the countries of Central Asia, taking the first place in the region in the scientific activity international ranking at SCImago Research Group (SCImago Country Rank). According to the cumulative data for the entire observation period (1996-2024), the republic is ranked 69^th in the world, significantly ahead of other countries in the region. By the end of 2024, Kazakhstan improved its performance and took 64^th place, demonstrating a steady positive trend in evolving the national science and publication activity growth.

Kazakhstan's leadership in the SCImago rating is systemic and precedent-based. The gap with the nearest Central Asian countries is ten or more than a hundred positions: Uzbekistan ranks 83^rd, Kyrgyzstan 130^th, Tajikistan 147^th, Turkmenistan 191^st. These data reflect differences in the level of funding for science, the development of research infrastructure, human resources, degree of international integration, and scientific publications quality.

The achieved results are the outcome of a consistent state policy in the science and higher education sphere. As part of executing the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On science and technology policy", priority attention is given to the regional innovation systems evolvement, the formation of centers of academic and research excellence, the introduction of mechanisms for co-financing research by business, as well as systematic support for young scientists. A significant area remains the expansion of Kazakhstani scientific organizations’ participation in international programs, including Horizon Europe, which contributes to domestic science integration into the global research space.

SCImago Research Group International Rating is one of the most authoritative tools for assessing the scientific and research potential of countries around the world. It is based on data from Elsevier's Scopus bibliometric database and covers the activities of universities, research institutes, and research centers in general. The rating methodology considers the number of publications in international peer-reviewed journals, the level of their citation, the scale of international scientific cooperation, the quality of research and contribution of science to innovative and technological growth.

The strengthening of Kazakhstan's position in the SCImago rating not only confirms the ongoing reforms’ effectiveness, but also strengthens the country's international image as a scientific and intellectual leader in Central Asia. In the context of global competition for knowledge and technology, the given result is becoming an important strategic guideline for the further development of the scientific system and increasing its contribution to the socio-economic progress of the country and the region as a whole.