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MINSK, 13 December (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gave an instruction to look into the feasibility of the project to set up the National Science and Technology Park BelBiograd at the 2^nd Congress of Scientists of Belarus on 13 December, BelTA learned.

“Please think about it. I am ready to support your decision (to set up the BelBiograd park – BelTA’s note) if you answer the following question: can we develop certain branches in the existing system? If we cannot, we will create a specialized facility. But if you mean that a group of scientists will work there only for the sake of preferences, I will not support your proposal,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

The president emphasized that he had been already thinking a lot about the feasibility of the BelBiograd project. “I do not want us to play the ape and set up such centers just because they exist in other places. Analyzing your proposals, we can see that you want to separate certain branches from university, branch-wise, and academic science and concentrate them in a sci-tech park. If these industries cannot be developed otherwise, let’s do it. But if we can develop them and get results without drastic changes why should we relocate anything?” the head of state wondered.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that such industries as bio- and nanotechnologies, pharmaceutics and instrument-making, are vigorously developing in Belarus. “We just need to make them work better,” the president believes.

“Dear scientists, please think if we really need to remove certain links from the existing chain and set up this sci-tech park. I am saying this as an example. Many innovative plans are submitted to me, but the majority of these innovations rely on a revolutionary approach to break the existing system and create something new instead. Has anyone calculated the expenses? Please think about it,” the president concluded.