Press releases

MOSCOW, 31 March (BelTA) – Every sci-tech program of the Belarus-Russia Union State results in a new product, Grigory Rapota, State Secretary of the Belarus-Russia Union State, said during the Moscow-Minsk video conference on 31 March, BelTA has learned.

According to the State Secretary, some RUB2-3 billion, or about 50% of the Union State budget, is allocated to the implementation of Union State programs every year. “We would like to increase this percentage,” he added. This year Belarus and Russia are implementing seven Union State programs. Two more have almost been completed.

Grigory Rapota explained that initially budgetary resources allocated for Union State programs were used to launch the production of some goods, for instance, TV sets, combiners and so on. “This approach did not prove efficient. We came to a conclusion that budgetary funds should be used to hold research and development works,” the State Secretary said.

According to Grigory Rapota, research and development works account for nearly 40%, and sometimes up to 60%, of the product prime cost. “Not every producer can afford it,” said the State Secretary of the Union State.

“Today, every sci-tech program results in new products and patents,” Grigory Rapota stressed.