Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in expanding international cooperation in innovation, Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus Alexander Shumilin said in the run-up to the opening ceremony of the 2^nd Forum of the Silk Road High-Tech Park Association (SRSPA) on 23 May, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus is interested in expanding international cooperation in innovation and promoting innovative entrepreneurship. At this forum Belarus and other states will discuss the ways to formulate a common policy on cooperation in innovative development, collaboration between hi-tech areas, and manufacturing of hi-tech products. The forum gathered over 10 countries, including Lithuania, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Poland, and Russia. The Chinese delegation comprises over 50 members, being the biggest one at the forum. Today hi-tech parks from different countries will sign agreements while the representatives of innovative business will establish relations,” Alexander Shumilin remarked.

According to him, Belarus-China scientific and technical cooperation has been expanding especially rapidly. “At the moment we are carrying out 28 joint practical projects in this field. The financing of these projects has been growing, too. China has assigned $10 million to implement them according to the relevant agreement of 2016,” Alexander Shumilin pointed out. Belarus and China carry out joint projects in radiodetection, electronics, nanomaterials, and genetic engineering. Belarusian and Chinese scientists are also producing new materials. Like graphene which is used to make supercapacitors.

Alexander Shumilin also noted that Belarus is interested in setting up new Belarus-China R&D laboratories. He said he supports the initiative brought forward by China’s President Xi Jinping on setting up 50 cross-border R&D centers under the One Belt, One Road project. “We believe that one or two centers can be built in Belarus, in the Great Stone industrial park,” Alexander Shumilin underlined.

The 2^nd Forum of the Silk Road High-Tech Park Association (SRSPA) will extend till 25 May. Established in July 2016 with the assistance of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the SRSPA association is designed to develop innovative infrastructure and expand scientific and innovative cooperation between the Silk Road member states. The association comprises scientific and technological organizations, R&D centers, agencies providing relevant services, and R&D institutions from a number of countries.