HSE University and SAFC Launch Cooperation on Nature and Climate Projects in Kazakhstan
The Сentre of Digital Technologies for Nature-Based Solutions at HSE University and the Kazakhstan-based company SAFC are planning joint work on the implementation of climate projects in Kazakhstan. Specialists from the HSE centre visited the site of the country’s first forest climate project and signed a cooperation agreement with SAFC.
The digital platform for assessing nature and climate projects, developed and maintained by the HSE Сentre of Digital Technologies for Nature-Based Solutions, focuses on ARR (afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation) projects, in particular afforestation and the creation of protective forest belts on agricultural land. The first and currently only project of this kind in Kazakhstan is being implemented by SAFC.
‘We visited the area of the Kapchagay Reservoir. It was here, near the city of Qonaev, that Kazakhstan’s first forest climate project was launched this spring. We inspected the afforestation sites, the drip irrigation system, and the specialised equipment used for the mechanised planting of seedlings under local conditions,’ said Viktor Proskuryakov, Project Manager at the HSE Сentre of Digital Technologies for Nature-Based Solutions.
The HSE Centre of Digital Technologies for Nature-Based Solutions of the Carbon Measurement Supersites Programme was established in 2025 as part of the HSE Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technology with the support of the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The centre has developed and continues to develop a digital platform for nature and climate projects that is adapted to Russia’s natural and regulatory conditions and takes international experience into account. The centre’s experts are also engaged in analytical, advisory, and research and educational activities related to various types of nature and climate projects, as well as sustainable agriculture and forestry.
Planting of poplar, elm, apricot, and other tree species was carried out in May 2025, at a density of approximately 2,200 saplings per hectare. Over the coming years, a green area covering 1,500 hectares will be established here, consisting of around 3.5 million trees. In other words, conditions will be created for ecosystem restoration on currently unused and degraded land along the northern shore of the Kapchagay Reservoir. At present, SAFC is preparing the project documentation for registration with the Verra registry, and the forest climate project is being implemented under the VM0047 methodology.
The capabilities of the Russian digital platform for assessing nature and climate projects have attracted the interest of colleagues from Kazakhstan. The parties have signed a cooperation agreement between HSE University and SAFC LLP.
‘It is important for us to have a digital tool for evaluating climate projects. Using the Russian digital platform, we plan to carry out a pilot case to calculate the parameters of our project, with verification of the results based on actual data,’ explained Yuri Kim, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SAFC.
The HSE Сentre of Digital Technologies for Nature-Based Solutions and SAFC also plan to organise joint projects in the interests of Russian companies, as well as visits by their representatives to the SAFC project site to demonstrate the implementation of climate projects and to exchange experience in agroforestry and digital solutions for nature and climate initiatives.
SAFC is engaged in forestry, mixed farming, sustainable land management, and the development of climate projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Kazakhstan. The company was founded in 2022. In 2024, together with its partners, SAFC began implementing Kazakhstan’s first forest climate project on the northern shore of the Kapchagay Reservoir.
See also:
HSE University Expands Cooperation with Malaysia in Technology Foresight
HSE University researchers will take part in a study of the future of engineering education in Malaysia, while the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) will use the iFORA big-data analysis system to validate the findings of its foresight research. These are the outcomes of a visit by HSE representatives to Kuala Lumpur.
Scientists Train Neural Network to Generate Process Plans from 3D Models
Researchers at the HSE FCS AI and Digital Science Institute have developed CAD2TechSpec, a framework that converts 3D models of mechanical parts into machining process plans—step-by-step instructions for machine tools. The solution aims to reduce the time required for the design and preparation of technical process documentation in mechanical engineering, aircraft manufacturing, and other high-tech industries. The study findings have been published in PeerJ Computer Science.
Biologists Discover 'Molecular Fingerprint' of Preeclampsia
Researchers at HSE University employed a new method to model hypoxia in placental cells during pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and identified molecular markers of tissue hypoxia. Since hypoxia is one of the key mechanisms underlying preeclampsia, these findings are important for a more accurate and timely diagnosis of the disease and for the development of effective treatment methods. The paper has been published in Placenta.
Laboratory of Future Networks: HSE Telecommunications Research Institute Develops 5G/6G Research Testbed
The 5G/6G testbed at the HSE Telecommunications Research Institute is becoming a research platform, an educational laboratory, and a foundation for developing new software components for future networks. It makes it possible not only to observe how a mobile network operates, but also to change its operating conditions and measure the results: data-transmission speed, latency, errors, radio-resource utilisation, and other parameters. Based on the testbed, researchers plan to develop MIMO, O-RAN, xApp, and IAB technologies, as well as experiment with artificial intelligence.
‘Hedgehog’ Versus ‘Relatives’: Researchers Measure How the Brain Responds to Unexpected Words During Natural Speech
Russian neurophysiologists, including researchers from HSE University, have demonstrated the feasibility of using event-related fields (ERFs) to study brain activity during natural speech perception. The researchers showed that this approach can be applied not only to individual words but also to continuous speech. Their findings indicate that words whose meanings differ significantly from the preceding context require longer processing times. The study also reveals that the brain processes function words in two stages: first, it identifies their grammatical role and then uses this information to predict the next word. The study has been published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Hybrid Intelligence: Competencies in the Age of AI Discussed at Technoprom-2026
Artificial intelligence is not creating new professions, but rather transforming the nature of existing ones. This was the conclusion reached by participants in the panel session ‘Hybrid Intelligence: Digital and Human Drivers of Development,’ organised by the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) at HSE University as part of the 13th International Forum of Technological Development (Technoprom-2026). The experts discussed how the nature of work is changing, which skills are becoming increasingly sought after, and what prevents companies from fully capitalising on new technologies.
Scientists Develop New Solution for 6G Communication Systems
A terahertz neuromorphic circuit developed by scientists at HSE University could make 6G communication systems both more accurate and energy-efficient. The circuit enables indoor tracking of mobile devices with an accuracy of up to 99%. The results were presented at PIERS 2026, an international symposium on Photonics and Electromagnetism held in China.
Scientists Develop Algorithm for More Reliable Processors in Data Centres
Researchers from HSE MIEM and Samara University have developed the LRF-3D algorithm to automatically bypass idle nodes in three-dimensional networks-on-chip. Thanks to its hierarchical architecture, the algorithm outperforms existing solutions in both speed and path accuracy, improving processor reliability for use in data centres, supercomputers, and AI computing. The source code and test results are publicly available.
Researchers Rank Recommendation Algorithms Using Sports Tournament Model
Researchers from the AI and Digital Science Institute at the HSE Faculty of Computer Science have developed an approach for selecting recommendation algorithms more effectively. Their approach uses pairwise comparisons of algorithms to create a tournament table, with the overall ranking based on their performance across all datasets in the tournament. This can reduce the number of algorithms that need to be tested when developing new services, saving both time and money. The study was presented at the 32nd ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD 2026).
Researchers Develop Method for Direct Generation of Regulatory DNA
Researchers at HSE University have developed a model for generating promoters and enhancers—DNA sequences that regulate gene activity. The model works directly with DNA nucleotides, without first transforming them into a continuous numerical representation. This solution could be useful for applications in synthetic biology and gene therapy. The study results were presented at the ICLR 2026 Workshop ‘Generative AI in Genomics (Gen^2): Barriers and Frontiers.’