Opinions & Interviews

Call for innovation-driven development strategy in Belarus-Russia union

MINSK, 11 October (BelTA) – It is necessary to work out and implement an innovation-driven development strategy in the Union State of Belarus and Russia in order to counteract global economic challenges and secure a decent place on the global market. The opinion was expressed by Alexander Shumilin, Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus, during the panel session on international activities and economic security held as part of the fifth Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia, BelTA has learned.

According to the source, science has become a productive force and directly influences economic growth, scientific and technological advance as well as social and economic progress. “Apart from creating new knowledge it is important to use this knowledge in the real sector of the economy. It is important to bolster the country’s competitive ability by developing and assimilating high-tech and science-intensive innovations,” stressed Alexander Shumilin. In order to tackle such strategic tasks, the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus and the Russian Science and Higher Education Ministry work together in a dedicated commission on forming common scientific and technological space.

Since the Union State of Belarus and Russia was established, the two countries have implemented over 50 major R&D programs. Technologies and samples of equipment were developed to make new polymeric and composite materials, chemical fibers and threads. These materials are used to make thermal-resistant products for various purposes. Over 60 import-substituting semiconductor products and components with exceptional functionality and precision parameters have been developed. Technologies created as part of the microsystems program are used to design new household appliances, in automobile engineering and defense industry.

One of the most important Union State programs – the development of spaceborne and ground-based solutions to provide remote Earth sensing data to consumers in Russia and Belarus – was finished in 2017. Scientists came up with 48 prototypes for mission equipment and auxiliary equipment, 18 experimental technologies, and 23 software and hardware systems for the space rocket industry.

Eight R&D programs of the Union State of Belarus and Russia are in progress this year. A number of new programs are in the pipeline. They are intended to design and start manufacturing mobile fiber optic locators, sensor systems for preventing natural and man-caused catastrophes, systems for designing and manufacturing microchips, high-performance agriculture technologies and health-improving food industry technologies. The new programs are also supposed to guide the R&D effort in the area of additive technologies and the production of modern industrial and consumer-grade 3D printers.

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