Astana will host the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s, OIC, first Summit on Science and Technology in September to decide the agenda of innovation and scientific research for the next decade.

The summit will be held on 10th and 11th September in the Kazakh capital of Astana, in the presence of kings, princes and heads of Islamic countries. It will be their largest gathering to discuss scientific and technological issues, innovation and scientific research. It will witness discussions on the strategy of development and the priorities that can be achieved in the fields of science, technology and innovation over the next decade.

The summit is particularly important as it is the first to be held in Central Asia with the presence of heads of Islamic countries, which became members of the organisation in 1991.

The summit aims to shape the future of the science and technology agenda, reaffirm Islamic leadership of science and technology at the highest level, and set priorities, objectives and recommended actions for Islamic countries in science and technology over the next decade.

Parliamentarians, government officials, researchers and experts from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, the Comoro Islands, Pakistan, The Gambia, the Republic of Mali, among others will share their experiences at the event.

The forum will also see discussions on cooperation among countries in science, technology and innovation. The international experience of India, UAE, Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco and Tajikistan will also be considered. The topic of transitioning to "green economies" will be in the spotlight at the event.

The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, ISESCO, will present its research into the best models of the regulatory-legal framework and the incentive mechanisms in the field of science, technologies and innovations in the OIC member and non-member countries.

The summit, which is the first meeting of Islamic heads of state and government, will consider specific issues related to science and technology, ways to shape the future of the science and technology agenda, reaffirm the leadership’s commitment to science and technology at the highest level and identify priorities, objectives and recommended actions for Islamic countries in the field of science and technology for the next decade.

The summit will also witness discussions on the advancement of innovation and scientific research with the intention of encouraging scientists in Islamic countries and awarding prizes to honour them on the sidelines of the Astana summit, as well as many international competitions.