Scientific excellence in biomedical research: new opportunities and challenges in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world by territory, having a land mass similar to Western Europe and a population of 16 million. Oil and gas reserves rank it among the top 10 countries in the world and have fueled an average growth rate of 9.4% as well as a doubling of Kazakhstan's per capita gross domestic product since 2001. A strategic goal of Kazakhstan is to diversify the economy in other sectors such as construction, heavy machinery, agriculture, tourism, and education.