On October 13, 2026, the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University presented its sovereign artificial intelligence technologies and research capabilities to Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium during their state visit to Kazakhstan. The visit highlighted opportunities to strengthen academic, scientific, and technological cooperation between Kazakhstan and Belgium, particularly in artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
Dr. Huseyin Atakan Varol, Founding Director of ISSAI and Dean of the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) at Nazarbayev University, introduced the royal delegation to the Institute’s research workforce, infrastructure, scientific achievements, and portfolio of generative AI technologies developed to address Kazakhstan’s linguistic and technological needs.
Under the theme “Sovereign Generative AI, Open to the World,” ISSAI showcased its efforts to develop advanced AI technologies tailored to Kazakhstan’s linguistic and technological needs while contributing to international scientific research.
The Institute’s portfolio includes KAZ-LLM, its large language model for the Kazakh language, which has been downloaded more than 200,000 times; Oylan, a multimodal generative AI system; MangiSoz, a multilingual translation platform supporting 11 languages; TilSync, an AI-powered live subtitling solution; and accessibility technologies such as Qolda and Joldas AI.
The Institute’s commitment to open-source technologies, reproducible research, and responsible AI development remains central to its mission of creating solutions with both national and international relevance.
ISSAI welcomed opportunities to engage with Belgian universities and research institutions, particularly in areas where advanced AI research can contribute to scientific innovation and address real-world challenges.
The royal visit underscored the growing importance of artificial intelligence as a bridge between research, education, and industry. Through its open and internationally oriented approach, ISSAI aims to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position in the global AI landscape while creating new opportunities for international scientific collaboration.