– Belarus and Russia have great potential for scientific cooperation. For our interaction, we must make the most of our scientific potential. Today we live in conditions of revolutionary changes in many scientific fields. We predict a boom in the field of neural networks. They enter into all spheres of life. The Academy of Sciences accumulates almost all fields of science and technology, and now it is very important to develop interdisciplinary cooperation.
Everything according to the program
The agenda of the meeting was extensive – from the implementation of state programs of the Union with the participation of organizations of both academies to the strategy of scientific and technological development of Belarus and Russia. The specialists also discussed research and development in the field of microelectronics, the research program of the branch of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute” in Belarus, joint Belarusian-Russian projects within the framework of the programs of the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Basic Research and Russian Federation Science Foundation.
Regarding union programs in science, Secretary of State of the Union State Dmitry Mezentsev noted successes in various fields:
Before the end of the year, he was tasked with completing work on the strategy for forming a single scientific and technical space
– The Union State successfully implements programs in space, electronics, security, medicine, mechanical engineering and agriculture. 82 programs have been implemented for an amount of just over 52 billion Russian rubles.
Dmitry Mezentsev spoke about the implementation of 28 trade union programs approved at the meeting of the Supreme State Council in November 2021 and implemented:
– It is an interconnected and balanced strategic work plan that defines a new quality of interaction. This year, we are launching four new State of the Union programs.
Moreover, a draft program of cooperation between the academies of sciences of the two countries until 2024 has already been drawn up, as well as a basic scientific research plan. Much attention is paid to the development of a Union State science and technology cooperation strategy. The plan is to adopt the above strategy in the second half of this year, said Vladimir Gusakov, chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
The first people from the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences, the Kurchatov Institute, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Union State Standing Committee took part in the work of the council. Photo: Alexander Kulevsky
Clear strategy
The deep integration of Belarus and Russia, which has been much talked about lately, also concerns the scientific community. State Secretary of the Union State Dmitry Mezentsev said that our countries are working to form a single science and technology space:
– The consistent work of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Kurchatov Institute, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the involvement of the Standing Committee of the State of the Union, mainly in favor of trade union programs funded from the single union budget, is all confirmation of the plans and instructions that have been determined by the Heads of State. Over the past two years, we have seen an intensification of scientific cooperation. Before the end of the year, he was tasked with completing work on the strategy for forming a single science and technology space. This is the basis for ensuring our competitiveness, our technological sovereignty and new training programs for specialists. This is an opportunity to save money: we can do fundamental research by joining forces.
Andrei Kosovsky, First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technology of Belarus, spoke in more detail about the strategy at a joint meeting of the Presidiums of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Russian Academy of Sciences:
– At present, the strategy has been finalized taking into account the comments and suggestions received. The draft resolutions of the Council of Ministers and the Supreme State Council of the Union on the approval of the strategy have been approved by the Russian side and are subject to the internal approval procedure in Belarus, after which they will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the State of the Union for consideration at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Union.
Andrei Kosovsky added that the developed strategy defines the goal, main tasks and directions of the scientific and technological development of the Union State. Its implementation is expected to change the role of science and technology in the development of society and economy in the Union State:
– Accordingly, it is planned to ensure the preparation of the State of the Union for existing and emerging major challenges, to improve the quality of life of the population, to ensure security and to strengthen the positions of the Belarus and Russia in the world ranking of living standards. Technological renewal of the traditional sectors of the economy of Belarus and Russia and an increase in the share of products from new high-tech and science-intensive industries are also planned. In addition, it is planned to create an effective system of organizing and financing research and development, ensuring the promotion of innovations developed in the State of the Union to new markets, the growth of income from the export of high-tech products and the rights to exploit the results of intellectual activity.
Direct speech
Dmitry Mezentsev, State Secretary of the Union State:
– This difficult period of unprecedented pressure on our countries allows us to rethink the millennial history of Slavic lands. This is especially important for the new generations of citizens of the Union State. We must understand that today a new generation is growing up which, to a much lesser extent than us, understands a unique history and concepts such as interaction, citizenship, mutual aid and decency. The interaction of national leaders, the interaction of millions of Belarusians and Russians, the conversation on an equal footing today allows us to look at our history much more deeply and more fairly.
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