Opinions & Interviews

SLUTSK, 25 January (BelTA) – The year 2017 declared the Year of Science in Belarus should be a year of milestones for the Belarusian science, Natalia Kochanova, Head of the Belarus President Administration, said as she met with the employees of Slutsk Sugar Refinery on 25 January, BelTA has learned.

The events that will be held as part of the Year of Science will give a fresh impetus to the development of academic and university-based scientific research, production of innovations and implementation of domestically designed solutions in real economy. “We expect 2017 to be a year of milestones for research institutions, first of all, the National Academy of Sciences. Innovative development, which is a priority for Belarus, is impossible without cutting-edge technical solutions,” Natalia Kochanova noted.

Belarus will adopt a state program for innovative development in 2016-2020 in the near future. The program will outline priority areas for the development of science in the country and the tasks regarding the implementation of innovations in different economy sectors. Special attention will be paid to the application of innovations in manufacturing industry. “The integration of science and production is a very important objective for us at the current stage. We need to make sure that scientific and technical solutions get used in real economy,” Natalia Kochanova emphasized.

The Head of the Belarus President Administration pointed out that Belarusian scientists have achieved considerable results in space technology, IT technology, and medicine, including organ transplantation. Natalia Kochanova said a few words about the development of Belarus’ pharmaceutical industry and noted that the domestically produced drugs are increasing their presence on the Belarusian market. The country has started to make analogs of import medications and new pharmaceutical products designed by Belarusian scientists. The medication for treatment of blood cancer is an example. It is important to encourage development of new products and solutions in other fields of science, Natalia Kochanova stressed.

She also spoke about the development of university-based science. All its products should have practical application. Another priority is to step up the cooperation between educational establishments and enterprises so that students could develop certain skills during their university studies. “University students should cooperate with enterprises. The Education Ministry has been entrusted with this task. It is now working to fulfill it, review the required duration of university studies and test the quality of the programs offered to our young people,” Natalia Kochanova said.

The Head of the Belarus President Administration pointed out that the Belarusian science is looking for ways to encourage young people to take up academic careers and increase the funding for promising research projects.

Natalia Kochanova noted that the head of state will soon hold a meeting on the development of the Belarusian science. The meeting will discuss the key tasks that scientists in Belarus are faced with and ways to address them.