Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 24 December (BelTA) – Belarus and Turkey should step up scientific and technical cooperation. The opinion was voiced by Vladimir Gusakov, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, during the meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkey to Belarus Kezban Nilvana Darama in the Academy on 24 December, BelTA has learned.

According to Vladimir Gusakov, at present scientific and technical cooperation between Belarus and Turkey is based on the agreement signed by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) in 2002 as well as the scientific cooperation agreement signed by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Turkish Academy of Sciences in 2009. However, these agreements are not fully implemented and therefore Belarus and Turkey should step up scientific and technical cooperation for the benefit of the two economies. The official suggested signing a new trilateral agreement on cooperation between the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, TUBITAK and the Turkish Academy of Sciences.

Apart from the expansion of Belarus-Turkey scientific and technical cooperation the sides discussed the possible participation of organizations of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus in the Expo 2016 Antalya.

Kezban Nilvana Darama noted that the Turkish side is interested in expanding cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Those are primarily nano, bio, information and agribusiness technologies, exchange programs for researchers and Ph.D. candidates, the implementation of joint research projects and the organization of scientific events, and the improvement of the level of scientific and information cooperation through the exchange of publications and teaching materials.

At present organizations of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and Turkey are working on four projects that deal with bioorganic chemistry, physics, applied physics, and studies meant to evaluate the ecological state of water. A contest of new projects to be implemented in 2016-2017 has been held, with 14 applications submitted. The projects that will get funding are now being chosen.