Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 26 January (BelTA) – The best R&D products should serve people instead of gathering dust on shelves. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement during the ceremony held on 26 January to award diplomas to doctors of science and professor certificates to scientists and pedagogues, BelTA has learned.

During the meeting with the scientists the head of state drew attention to the unresolved issues plaguing Belarusian science. “Some of them are truly a reason for concern,” noted the President. In his opinion, the economy does not always need some of the scientific specializations. The fact represents an obvious lapse on the part of people in charge of planning postgraduate education.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, a lot has indeed been done. Yet not all the research projects in technical disciplines, natural science disciplines, and humanitarian disciplines have an applied value.

Alexander Lukashenko said: “It is necessary to direct research efforts to the topics and areas we need most. The best scientific advances should serve people instead of gathering dust on shelves. I have come up with a definitive and radical solution to the problem. It is now up to you to fulfill it.”

“Today nobody in the country can afford not mastering or assimilating results of scientific research. If these results are not utilized, it means we have to blame the head of the Academy of Sciences and all the institutes, the education minister, and members of the government in charge of overseeing this area. Only they are to blame. The production sector has no right to reject promising R&D products. The head of the Academy of Sciences is in essence the person to decide whether they are promising or not. It is his responsibility. This is why the matter is settled once and for all. I don’t want scientists to ever again raise this issue before me. There are specialists in charge of evaluating the promising nature of scientific advances,” said the head of state.

Among other acute problems Alexander Lukashenko mentioned the unwillingness of talented young Belarusians to pursue a scientific research career. “You can see that a large number of promising fields require active development. Nuclear energy industry, space exploration and biotechnologies are wide open for young researchers. And these are only new industries while there are many old ones that can be reinvigorated,” noted the head of state. “Can we satisfy the healthy scientific ambitions of young Belarusians and provide them with the necessary conditions for work today?”

According to the President, there are still many tasks in Belarusian science that need to be addressed.