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MINSK, 24 March (BelTA) – Scientists of Poland and Belarus will work out mechanisms to implement 22 joint projects in the area of history, physics, biotechnologies, and the development of new materials. The relevant agreement was reached as a result of the visit of the delegation of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) to Warsaw. The delegation was led by Chairman of the NASB Presidium Vladimir Gusakov, the NASB press service told BelTA.

The NASB delegation was invited to visit Warsaw by the Polish Academy of Sciences. The purpose of the visit was to get familiar with research accomplishments of Polish scientific institutions, discuss prospects and ways to step up Belarusian-Polish R&D cooperation, and participate in the conference on Belarusian-Polish scientific research cooperation in the area of liberal arts.

During the negotiations the heads of the Belarusian and Polish academies of sciences discussed the current state of cooperation and determined possible steps to intensify the bilateral interaction. Vladimir Gusakov and Jerzy Duszynski mentioned the great available potential for enhancing cooperation and agreed that the assimilation of research products should primarily benefit the economies of the two countries.

The sides decided to support cooperation between liberal arts scientists of Belarus and Poland, including the organization of joint annual research and practice conferences, seminars and roundtable sessions in addition to relevant contests of research projects in line with the agreement on scientific cooperation between the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Polish Academy of Sciences. Belarusian and Polish scientists will take an active part in the organization of the international scientific conference on problems of rational utilization of natural resources and sustainable development of the Polesie area. The conference is expected to take place in Minsk in September. Possible participation of the Polish Academy of Sciences in the emerging research and technology park Belbiograd will be considered. The park will specialize in pharmaceutics, nano and biotechnologies. Plans have been made to step up the joint participation of Polish and Belarusian scientists in consortiums created for the sake of initiating and implementing projects as part of the European Union’s scientific, technological, and innovative development program Horizon 2020.

During the conference on Belarusian-Polish scientific research cooperation in the area of liberal arts the participants discussed problems standing in the way of joint research projects.

The press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told BelTA that on both sides the idea behind the forum was the need for further advance productive cooperation and find approaches towards studying the historical legacy of the peoples of Belarus and Poland. “Belarus and Poland have a lot in common and should advance their relations for the benefit of enriching the historical and cultural legacy of the countries without excessive politics and mutual reproaches. It is necessary to seek the factors that unite us and make us stronger,” noted the press service. During the visit of the NASB delegation to Warsaw parallels were drawn between the visit of the Belarusian scientists to Poland and the visit of Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Witold Waszczykowski to Belarus. It was noted that the symbolism of the two visits represents an additional foundation for stepping up cooperation between the two countries, including in scientific affairs.

The NASB delegation also visited the Polish Academy of Sciences’ History Institute, the Genetics and Animal Breeding Institute, the Geography and Spatial Organization Institute, the Philosophy and Sociology Institute, the Slavic Studies Institute. The operation of the institutes and their latest innovative research accomplishments were discussed as well as promising avenues of bilateral cooperation.