Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 29 April (BelTA) – Implementing youth ideas and innovations is the key to successful development of Belarus, First Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Maksim Ryzhenkov said at the opening of the final round of the 100 Ideas for Belarus contest, BelTA has learned.

“Over the years the 100 Ideas for Belarus contest has turned into a large-scale national project which enables talented young people to fulfill their potential. Implementing their ideas, innovations, and discoveries is the key to successful development of the country,” Maksim Ryzhenkov said. He urged young people to remember that the future of Belarus depends on their commitment and creativity.

Maksim Ryzhenkov noted that young people enthusiastically participate in the project. This year the interactive exhibition of the best innovative developments at the National Academy of Sciences headquarters features about 120 projects. “The exhibition shows that young people keep an eye on the scientific and technological progress, create analogues of the foreign developments adapting them to Belarusian realities. Our youth is in step with science. We can look to the future with optimism because we have such talented youth,” Maksim Ryzhenkov noted.

As BelTA reported earlier, over 2,000 people applied for the contest. The panel of experts will select ten winners in the main nominations. The projects will be presented in the format of a startup competition throughout the day. The winners will be awarded grants worth 40 tariff rates. The grants are traditionally provided by the Belarusian Innovation Fund to help the winners work out business plans. In addition, the winners will have the right to represent Belarus at the international youth contest “100 ideas for the CIS 2018”. Irrespective of the judges’ decision, every finalist can compete for a grant worth Br11,500 to develop his project. The grant will be awarded by Coca-Cola Beverages Belarus Company, the official partner of the 100 Ideas for Belarus contest.

 An open dialogue “Science of the young is science of the future” is the highlight of the national final. The discussion is held in Belarus’ National Academy of Sciences and gathers experts, participants of the 100 Ideas for Belarus contest, and young scientists of the NASB. The organizers plan to announce the results of the contest and hold the award ceremony during the closing ceremony of the exhibition.