On the eve of the referendum, the Directorate of the Institute of Zoology held a discussion of the draft of the new Constitution – a document that will largely determine the country’s development strategy for decades to come. Among the many proposed changes, particular importance is given to provisions related to science, education, innovation, and environmental protection.
The first important direction is strengthening the role of science and human capital. The concept of the new Constitution emphasizes that the key resource of the state is not only natural wealth, but also knowledge, technology, and the intellectual potential of society. In essence, it proposes to закрепить a strategic transition from a resource-based economic model to a knowledge-based economy.
This is especially important for Kazakhstan. Our country possesses strong scientific potential and a well-developed system of academic institutes and universities. Including science among the priorities of constitutional development means recognizing that scientific research and innovation must become one of the fundamental drivers of national progress.
Special attention in the draft is also given to the protection of intellectual labor and the development of innovation. In modern conditions, this implies the formation of a legal environment in which scientific ideas, developments, and technologies become an important public resource and receive state support.
The second important aspect is environmental responsibility and sustainable development. Kazakhstan faces a number of serious environmental challenges: climate change, ecosystem degradation, water resource problems, the consequences of industrial pollution, and the conservation of biodiversity.
The draft of the new Constitution strengthens attention to environmental and nature protection issues. This reflects the modern understanding that environmental security is part of national security, and that sustainable management of natural resources is a necessary condition for the long-term development of the state.
Therefore, strengthening the role of science in the Constitution simultaneously means reinforcing the scientific basis of the country’s environmental policy.
The third important point is orientation toward future generations. In the discussion of the constitutional reform, it is emphasized that the development of science, education, and technology is viewed as the foundation of the long-term sustainability of the state and society.
The inclusion of science and environmental responsibility in the system of constitutional priorities is an important signal that the country’s development should be built on the intellectual potential of society and the principles of sustainable development.
However, the effectiveness of these provisions will depend not only on the text of the Constitution, but also on how consistently they are implemented in public policy, in the financing of science, and in the support of research institutes and environmental programs.
And it is precisely the scientific community that can play a key role in ensuring that these constitutional principles become a real instrument for the development of Kazakhstan.
25.02.2026