PPRC was established under the initiative of the Open Society Institute (Budapest). PPRC is one of 22 public policy institutes in Central and East Europe founded by the Soros Foundation Kazakhstan and the publicly funded Center for Analysis and Prognosis. The mission of PPRC is to identify appropriate solutions to strategic public policy issues and facilitate effective decision-making through professional analysis and open debate. The center's goals are to: (1) assist in introducing concepts and procedures for public policy in Kazakhstan; (2) conduct independent research; (3) determine alternative solutions to existing problems by organizing public forums; (4) provide information to all parties involved in government, society, and international organizations; (5) assist in creating a socio-political environment in Kazakhstan that is favorable to democratic reforms; and (6) become a resource center on public policy issues in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

KIMEP was formally established by presidential resolution with the mission to provide the young people of Kazakhstan with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue prosperity and stability for the entire nation through competent and ethical leadership in business and government. In order to fulfill its mission, KIMEP offers graduate and undergraduate programs in business administration, accounting, economics, public administration, and social sciences. With the belief that credible research is one of the major vehicles of development, the KIMEP Center for Research and Development stimulates faculty research and consultancy and conducts contract research projects. KIMEP emphasizes the application of the knowledge in collaboration with government, industry, commerce, professionals, and other community groups. Research activities at KIMEP are publicized in the Central Asian Journal, the Student Central Asian Journal, and conference proceedings. KIMEP's International Office was established on January 14, 2002, with the overall objectives of enhancing its image as the leading academic institution in the Central Asian region and CIS and creating awareness of KIMEP in the international arena.

KazISS conducts research into strategic problems related to external policy and the social-economic development of Kazakhstan and produces long-range and analytical materials for the country's governing bodies. The main directions of KazISS's research are (1) strategic aspects of external policy (monitoring of the internal political and social-economic development of adjoining countries; analysis of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Russia, China, the United States, Turkey, and member states of the EU and CIS; problems of integration all over the post-Soviet area; and issues concerning the struggle against terrorism and extremism), (2) social-political processes in contemporary Kazakhstan (monitoring of the socio-political situation; analysis of the ethno-demographical situation and migration processes in Kazakhstan; and the democratization processes and formation of political institutes in Kazakhstan), and (3) economic security (problems of economic security; tendencies of world economy development and analysis of its impact on Kazakhstan's economy; problems of Kazakhstan's participation in international economic cooperation; and socio-economic monitoring). KazISS cooperates with various foreign academic and research institutions, undertaking international research projects concerning different aspects of the development of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.