Nazarbayev University researchers develop Kazakhstan’s first microprocessor

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNVT) — In a landmark achievement for Kazakhstan’s emerging technology sector, researchers at Nazarbayev University, located in the capital city Astana, have successfully tested the country’s first microprocessor, Kazinform News Agency reports.

The development of the processor, led by Assistant Professor Nursultan Kabylkas of the university’s School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, took just three months to complete.

Kabylkas said the team’s prior work with simpler prototypes allowed them to accelerate the development process.

“It took us three months to develop and test the final processor. We had already worked with simpler prototypes, so the adaptation process was quick.

The most time-consuming stage was fabrication, but our role in this was minimal — this process was carried out in production, so we were essentially waiting for the finished chip,” Kabylkas explained.

The newly developed microprocessor is intended for use in automated devices such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), where reliability and predictability are more critical than high performance.

“Our team is made up of talented, motivated young professionals. These are mostly Nazarbayev University students and graduates working in our labs,” Kabylkas said.

According to the developers, the chip labeled “Designed in Kazakhstan” marks a critical step toward establishing a national technological ecosystem, advancing scientific research, and integrating Kazakhstan into the global semiconductor industry.

The research team now plans to focus on developing Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools to support the design and testing of future microchips, laying the groundwork for Kazakhstan’s long-term participation in the global tech economy.