On May 6, 2026, the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) welcomed a distinguished delegation from IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems and the Embassy of Austria in Kazakhstan during their recent visit to the university.
The IMC Krems delegation included Dr. Heinz Michael Boyer, Founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, and Dr. Udo Brändle, Chief Executive Officer and Head of University Management Research & Innovation. The Embassy of Austria in Kazakhstan was represented by Ainur Zhunussova.
ISSAI participants included Dr. Huseyin Atakan Varol, Founding Director; Yerbol Absalyamov, Executive Director; Dr. Ainur Zhaikhan, Postdoctoral Researcher; Aigerim Sarsenova, Senior External Affairs Manager; and Ulzhan Alibek, External Affairs Manager.
The meeting opened with a presentation by Aigerim Sarsenova, who provided an overview of ISSAI’s key research areas, AI products and services, and its growing educational ecosystem. The presentation highlighted ISSAI’s contributions to advancing AI technologies and its role in shaping the national AI ecosystem. Dr. Ainur Zhaikhan followed with a presentation of ongoing research in robotics and computer vision, showcasing recent developments and applied research directions.
In turn, the IMC Krems delegation introduced the city of Krems and presented the university’s academic programs, international engagement, and research priorities, with a focus on interdisciplinary education and global collaboration.
The discussions reflected a strong mutual interest in developing future cooperation. Key areas included potential joint research projects, collaboration on AI-related academic programs, and opportunities for student mobility and exchange.
The visit, organized by the Embassy of Austria in Kazakhstan, marked an important step toward strengthening international partnerships and fostering collaboration in AI research and education between Kazakhstan and Austria.