ISTC holds its 81st Governing Board meeting online

The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) held its 81st Governing Board (GB81) meeting on 18 December 2025, in an online format, bringing together representatives of ISTC member countries and funding parties to review progress, take key decisions, and discuss priorities for the year ahead.

Chaired by Dr. Ronald F. Lehman II, Chair of the ISTC Governing Board, the meeting provided an opportunity to assess ISTC’s activities in 2025, review new, ongoing and completed projects, and outline strategic and operational directions for 2026.

During the meeting, Executive Director Karina Anguelieva delivered the annual update, highlighting progress on ISTC Strategic Roadmap priorities implementation, increasing the visibility of the centre and strengthening the capacity of the staff as well as the continued diversification of ISTC’s project portfolio addressing regional and global challenges. The Board reviewed projects completed in 2025 and examined their results and key achievements in line with discussions on potential synergies and increase partnerships across borders and across sectors.

A key agenda item concerned the Open Call for Proposals 2024, under which the Governing Board reviewed and approved new projects for funding in Central Asia and Caucasus region. Following three research proposals, which are to be implemented in collaboration with leading Japanese research institutes and universities, have been shortlisted for final funding approval:

1. Adaptive response of wild cereals to increased levels of radioactive contamination (National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan): mechanisms and patterns, focusing on fundamental research into radiation resilience and biological adaptation mechanisms.

2. Optimization of Green Hydrogen Generation through Solar Photocatalytic Processes Using Low-Cost and Eco-friendly Transition Metal Oxynitrides (TMONs) (S.U.Umarov Physical–Technical Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan): aimed at advancing environmentally sustainable technologies and green hydrogen production.

3. Biochemical conversion of agro-industrial wastes to renewable hydrogen gas (Yerevan State University, Armenia): addressing innovative approaches to bioenergy and hydrogen energy conversion.

The three proposals above were approved with allocated funding by the Japan Party under the Open Call framework, demonstrating ISTC’s commitment to support excellence research and innovation and delivering science-driven solutions with strong economical and societal impact.

The Governing Board also held an exchange of views on the decision-making process with a focus on transparency, efficiency, and sound governance.

Financial matters were a key component of the meeting agenda. The Board reviewed and approved the FY 2026 AOB budget and workload, and selected independent auditors, reaffirming its commitment to financial sustainability and accountability.

The meeting included the introduction of newcomers, notably Mr. Aibolat Abitbekov as the new Deputy Executive Director of ISTC. The Board also discussed preparations for the 82nd Governing Board meeting, scheduled to take place in Armenia in 2026.

The 81st Governing Board meeting reaffirmed ISTC’s role as a platform for international scientific cooperation, supporting research, innovation, and capacity building across its regions of operation. Discussions highlighted a shared commitment to strengthening ISTC’s impact, effectiveness, and visibility in the years ahead. The Board acknowledged the Executive Director’s fresh perspective on ISTC’s management throughout her first year and expressed confidence in the forthcoming actions aimed at ensuring the organization’s long-term resilience and relevance.