On October 8, a meeting took place between Tokyo Medical University and Osh State University to discuss the launch of a project titled “Development of an Air Pollution Assessment System Based on Satellite Data and Regional Chemical Transfer Modeling, and the Establishment of an Air Pollution Research Center.” The agreement was signed by Rector Kudaiberdi Kozhobekov and Mitsuhiro Ushio, representing the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s Department of Human Resources Development.

As part of the initiative, a new research center (IRCAPS) dedicated to air pollution research will be established at Osh State University, with financial backing from Japan. The center will focus on studying the health impacts of air pollution. A data center will also be built to gather and store information.

Air quality monitoring devices will be installed both indoors and outdoors in Osh, Bishkek, and other regions to measure pollution levels. Teams from both countries will collaborate to develop a strategy that will later be integrated into the national air quality monitoring system. Tokyo Medical University will provide specialized training to Osh State University employees for this purpose.

Japanese scientists will work alongside local researchers at the new center until the project’s completion. Based on the data collected, recommendations will be made to relevant organizations and institutions. Additionally, an office for the Japan International Cooperation Agency will be established at Osh State University.

The project is set to run for five years and will be fully operational by April 2025. It will be executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Control, the Hydrometeorological Service, the International Higher Medical School, the Osh City Hall, and international partners. Osh State University will lead the implementation.

Air pollution has become a critical issue in recent years, with Bishkek and Osh ranking among the most polluted cities globally. According to the Republican Health Center, air pollution contributed to 18.6% of cardiovascular disease-related deaths and 31.4% of respiratory illnesses in Kyrgyzstan in 2019.