Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) was founded in September 2019 to serve as the driver of research and innovation in the digital sphere of Kazakhstan with the focus on areas of AI research. The Institute is directed by Professor Huseyin Atakan Varol, who obtained his PhD degree in electrical engineering from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. Located at the Nazarbayev University in Nur-Sultan city, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, ISSAI aims to develop and conduct interdisciplinary research on machine intelligence for solving real-word problems of industry and society. ISSAI will serve as a model for sustainable high-impact research in Kazakhstan, aligning the research initiatives with national development priorities, and emphasizing the development of human capital amongst the growing youth demographic of the country. ISSAI aims to help Kazakhstan serve as the regional hub for digital and data-centric international companies and have specific development targets such increased GDP created by AI companies by 2029, increased workforce in AI and IT-related industries by 2029, E-government run optimally by AI in 2023, and 90% of medical diagnostics augmented by AI by 2023. The vision of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) of the Nazarbayev University is to make Kazakhstan a research and innovation powerhouse in artificial intelligence with a vibrant AI-based economy and skilled workforce. ISSAI aims to promote research and results in the area of smart systems and artificial intelligence, as well as advise Kazakhstan’s government and support its vision of the AI ecosystem in the country.
