Almaty, Kazakhstan – The Horizon Europe Cluster 5 Regional Info Day, held on 20 May 2025 in Almaty, marked a significant milestone in advancing research and innovation (R&I) collaboration between the European Union (EU) and Central Asian countries. Organised by the EU-funded SECCA project in collaboration with Kazakhstan’s Science Fund, the event brought together leading researchers and universities from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The Info Day provided participants with in-depth, practical insights into navigating Horizon Europe. Through a mix of expert-led presentations, networking sessions, and targeted discussions, attendees learned how to effectively search project partners and leverage the expanding network of National Contact Points (NCPs). This practical support was designed to equip the Central Asian institutions to take full advantage of opportunities within Horizon Europe.

Distinguished speakers from both the EU and Central Asia enriched the event. Among them were:

• Kremena Mileva, International Relations Officer in Science, Technology and Innovation for Central Asia and Mongolia, the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission
• Dr Aliya Sembayeva,Acting Chairperson of the Board of the Science Fund of Kazakhstan and NCP Coordinator
• Miriam de Angelis, Horizon Europe Cluster 5 NCP representing Italy’s Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE), which coordinates the GREENET – the European network of Cluster 5 NCPs
• Daniele Gizzi, NCP for legal and financial aspects at APRE
• Kolbrun Bjargmundsdottir, Horizon Europe Cluster 5 NCP from the Icelandic Centre for Research (RANNIS).

NCPs from Central Asia also played a key role sharing success stories and research priorities specific to the region.

The event concluded with a dynamic pitching session, where leading Kazakh universities and research institutes presented their project ideas, underscoring the region’s growing readiness to engage in high-level international R&I projects. The success of the Info Day not only highlighted the EU’s commitment to scientific excellence but also strengthened the foundation for long-term collaboration between Europe and Central Asia.

Background:

With a budget of EUR 95.5 billion, Horizon Europe represents the EU’s most ambitious R&I initiative to date. The programme emphasises interdisciplinary collaboration, and Cluster 5 specifically targets the climate, energy and mobility fields.

The Regional Info Day built on the momentum initiated by earlier awareness-raising activities, including the workshop “Horizon Europe in Central Asia – Promoting Research Excellence and Collaboration for Sustainable Energy” held in Astana in May 2024. At that time, awareness of Horizon Europe in the region was limited, and only Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan had designated National Contact Points (NCPs) – with none specific to Cluster 5.

In under a year, however, notable progress has been made. With continued support from SECCA, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have established their own NCP networks, and new Cluster 5 NCPs have been nominated in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. These developments reflect a growing commitment across the region to strengthen ties with the EU in the R&I sector.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – The Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan hosted an international conference “Possibilities of Turkmenistan’s participation in the Horizon Europe Programme, prospects and potential for the development of international cooperation”. The event was attended by representatives of universities, government agencies and the European Union (EU) to deepen cooperation with the EU in the field of research and innovation.

Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship EUR 95.5 billion initiative to support research and innovation. During the conference, Kremena Mileva, International Relations Officer of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and International Cooperation at the European Commission, spoke about the opportunities for enhancing research and innovation cooperation with Central Asian countries. Gulnabat Gurdova, Horizon Europe National Contact Point in Turkmenistan, representing the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, shared about the current development of international cooperation within the programme. SECCA project experts Ilze Purina and Natalia Shatirishvili presented practical information on participation support, rules, network of national contact points, as well as recommendations on how to find partners in the EU countries to participate in joint projects, in particular under Cluster 5: “Climate, Energy and Mobility”.

The event was organised by the EU-funded SECCA project with the support of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan. The conference was the third event in Turkmenistan fully dedicated to the Horizon Europe programme.

At the end of the conference, the participants took part in a roundtable discussion where further steps to increase Turkmenistan’s participation were outlined. The conference was an important step towards the integration of Turkmenistan into the European research community.

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic – The Horizon Europe National Contact Point for Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy, and Mobility) Mr Khanchoro Murzaliev successfully hosted an Info Day on the opportunities and priorities within the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme.

The event took place at the National Historical Museum in Bishkek and brought together representatives of the academic and research community in Kyrgyzstan. Participants included representatives from seven leading universities, among them Kyrgyz National University and Bishkek Humanitarian University.

The Info Day focused on:

• Raising awareness of Horizon Europe’s Cluster 5 themes
• Encouraging cross-border collaboration in green innovation and sustainable development
• Presenting upcoming calls for proposals and practical steps for participation.

Mr Murzaliev emphasised the strategic importance of aligning national research potential with the EU priorities, especially, in climate action and clean energy.

“This event is an important step in integrating Kyrgyz institutions into the European Research Area. We aim to build strong international partnerships and increase our participation in competitive EU funding programmes,” noted Mr Murzaliev.

The event also served as a platform for networking and matchmaking between researchers and institutions seeking to join international consortia.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – The European Union funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” continues to provide expert support to the power sector professionals of Turkmenistan as part of technical assistance aimed at developing the regulatory framework in the field of renewable energy sources (RES).

On 15 May 2025, during the visit to Ashgabat, SECCA Key Expert Ilze Purina handed over to the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan the draft ‘Recommendations on ensuring guaranteed connection of renewable energy installations to state energy systems’. This document contains recommendations on the main technical requirements for RES-based power plants to be connected to the power grids of the unified energy system of the country. It also provides recommendations on technical conditions for parallel operation with existing natural gas power plants.

The document outlines the technical regulations for dispatch control of the unified national power system, as well as the technical requirements for frequency regulation of the power system, specifically concerning solar and wind power plants. These requirements are mandatory for operators responsible for the management and operation of RES-based power plants. Additionally, the document provides recommendations on the key technical procedures for taking solar and wind power plants out of service for maintenance and bringing them back into operation after repairs.

Since January 2025, SECCA experts have been actively cooperating with representatives of Turkmenistan’s energy sector to promote the sustainable use of the country’s energy resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Earlier, the SECCA project submitted to the Ministry of Energy draft ‘Safety Recommendations for the Operation of Electricity Facilities’, which formed the basis for the ‘Safety Rules for the Operation of Electricity Facilities’ adopted by the Ministry on 2 May 2025.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – The Central Asia Climate Change Conference, convened in Ashgabat from 13 to 15 May 2025, brought together government officials, international partners, and academic experts under the theme: “Achieving the Global Climate Finance Goal through Regional and National Actions in Central Asia”.

The European Union funded SECCA project contributed to the conference session on renewable energy in Central Asia. Represented by Ilze Purina, Key Expert in Energy Sector Governance, SECCA emphasized the importance of small-scale renewable energy projects in advancing sustainable energy goals across the region. The session aimed to advance the development and deployment of renewable energy sources in Central Asia by fostering dialogue, sharing best practices, and promoting regional cooperation, while emphasizing the critical role of education in supporting a sustainable and inclusive energy transition.

In her presentation, Ms Purina outlined SECCA’s current activities in Central Asia, particularly in promoting small hydropower, rooftop solar installations, biomass energy, and geothermal energy in the countries of the region. She detailed how SECCA supports small-scale renewable energy adoption by working closely with national stakeholders and building technical capacity.

At the conclusion of the session, participants reached a mutual understanding on the need for coordinated regional efforts, including enhanced inter-university collaboration, supportive policy frameworks, and innovative financing models to overcome shared challenges and accelerate renewable energy deployment. SECCA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting such initiatives.

“Energiya Joly” Podcast explores the path to sustainable energy in Central Asia. It has been launched by the EU-funded SECCA Project.

In the new 9th episode, the host and the guest speaker discuss how smart meters work, how digitalisation impacts tariff policies and the energy system, the most successful cases in the European Union and Central Asia, and etc.

Host: Zhaksylyk Tokayev, Energy and Climate Expert, SECCA’s National Coordinator in Kazakhstan.

Guest: Madi Agybayev, Engineer and Technical Director at Riza Global.

Watch the full episode here (in Kazakh):

This podcast is funded by the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the consortium led by Stanted and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – The European Union (EU) funded Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA) project provides expert support to Turkmenistan’s power sector professionals as part of technical assistance aimed at developing the regulatory framework in the field of renewable energy sources (RES).

Since January 2025, SECCA experts have been actively cooperating with representatives of Turkmenistan’s energy sector to promote the sustainable use of the country’s energy resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. In particular, SECCA experts have prepared “Safety Recommendations for the Operation of Electricity Facilities. The draft Recommendations were handed over to the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan during SECCA’s visit to Ashgabat between 31 March and 5 April 2025. The document provided the basis for a new regulation adopted by the Ministry of Energy on 2 May 2025 – “Safety Rules for the Operation of Electricity Facilities”.

The Rules contain important provisions on the organisation of work for the sustainable development of the power sector, including occupational health and safety requirements for the operation of renewable energy installations. Special attention is paid to the construction, operation and maintenance of solar and wind power plants. In addition, the document takes into account the international experience of leading countries in the field of sustainable energy.

According to the working plan of the SECCA project, three more regulatory documents will be prepared by the end of 2025. Among them is the draft “Technical Recommendations on Ensuring Guaranteed Connection to the State Grid of Block Plants Powered by Renewable Energy”.

These initiatives will be an important support for the specialists of the power sector of Turkmenistan in the development of RES and energy efficiency. The development and implementation of new regulations will create a solid basis for a consistent transition to sustainable energy in the country.

Kazakhstan – Over 200 representatives of government agencies, affiliate organisations and expert organisations attended the workshops on building energy labelling and cost-optimal level calculations organised in Astana, Almaty, and online. These workshops were jointly held by the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Europea Union funded SECCA project, and the Chamber of Expert Organisations.

Kazakhstan’s building sector is the country’s largest energy consumer. Particularly in winter, high energy consumption results in increased demand on the heating and electricity systems. Data from the Committee for the Regulation of Natural Monopolies reveal that 60% of all thermal energy generated nationwide is used in buildings.

Kazakhstan has already established a legislative framework for energy efficiency labelling of buildings to drive demand for sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. However, other challenges remain, such as improving methodologies for assessing energy efficiency classes and disseminating information among market participants. It is important to adapt international experience to local conditions and raise awareness among key players in the construction sector.

Drawing on the EU experience under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the SECCA experts shared best practices and lessons learned by the EU Member States. The participants improved their capacities and expertise in energy efficiency certification of buildings, calculation of balance of costs, assessment of economic and environmental benefits, and other.

“Energiya Joly” Podcast explores the path to sustainable energy in Central Asia. It has been launched by the EU-funded SECCA Project.

In the new 8th episode, the host and the guest speaker explore Latvia’s energy profile and experience in developing sustainable buildings — from certification and renovation to the prospects of full decarbonization.

The experts discuss how Latvia’s energy system is evolving, what new standards and technologies are used in construction, how the building certification system functions, and what insights could be valuable for Central Asian countries.

Host: Zhaksylyk Tokayev, Energy and Climate Expert, SECCA’s National Coordinator in Kazakhstan.

Guest: Agris Kamenders, Sustainable Building Certification Expert.

Watch the full episode here (in Russian):

This podcast is funded by the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the consortium led by Stanted and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Astana, Kazakhstan — The Third Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of the European Union (EU) funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” took place in Astana.

The meeting gathered officials from the Central Asian countries, who are the PSC members designated by their respective governments, representatives of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the project implementing consortium partners. This annual meeting serves as a platform for reviewing progress, exchanging ideas, and planning the next steps.

During the meeting, Project Team Leader Mr Paata Janelidze and Key Expert Ms Ilze Purina presented a detailed update on activities carried out from March 2024 to February 2025, highlighting key milestones and achievements and outlining activities planned for the next six months.

Participants welcomed the project’s progress. The meeting also offered an opportunity to strengthen regional dialogue and ensure the alignment of project efforts with the national energy transition priorities of the Central Asian countries.