The Central Asia Sustainable Innovation Bureau (CASIB) supports applied research and development projects on topics related to climate, environment and energy between Germany and Central Asian countries. The Bureau's main objectives include the transfer of innovations in the field of sustainability within the region, as well as closer regional connections between research and development measures in the Central Asian partner countries. CASIB is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the framework of the funding programme CLIENT II.

The EU's latest Central Asia Strategy, published in May 2019, clearly expresses the aim to intensify and further expand the partnership between the EU and Central Asia. Hence, more than 10 years after the initial Central Asia Strategy from 2007, the EU's involvement in Central Asia continues to be high, as this geostrategic key region along the "New Silk Road" between Europe and China bears considerable economic potential.

With CLIENT II - 'International Partnerships for Sustainable Innovations', a measure within the framework of the programme FONA 3 - 'Research for Sustainable Development', the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is making a substantial contribution towards strengthening science and business-related partnerships between Germany and Central Asia – an important step towards the successful implementation of the EU's strategic paper.    

The regional office in Almaty (Kazakhstan) – in the heart of Central Asia – was established with the aim of providing a fixed presence in the region to facilitate the deepening and further expansion of cooperation and collaboration between German and Central Asian stakeholders, and to build long-lasting partnerships for the future.

The bureau's close connections with regional networks fosters synergy effects and raises public awareness about the projects, increasing their innovative capacities and development perspectives.