MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) – The State Science and Technology Committee (SSTC) of Belarus and the State Secretariat for Research, Development and Innovation of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain plan to sign an agreement on cooperation in science and technology in the near future. SSTC Chairman Alexander Shumilin discussed the plans with the State Secretariat authorities, BelTA learned from the SSTC press service.
A draft of the document was handed over to the Spanish side for consideration. Alexander Shumilin pointed out that the parties have significant potential in the area of mutual technology transfer in such priority cooperation fields as information technology, nano- and biotechnology, medicine, and new materials. He noted that technology transfer can be conducted via such already established organizations as the engineering center of the Belarusian Institute of System Analysis and Information Support of Scientific and Technical Sphere (BelISA) and the center for commercialization of the National Center of Intellectual Property.
The meeting also discussed matters related to the cooperation with Spain in Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation. “Belarus is eager to implement joint initiatives with Europe in general and Spain in particular, including as part of the Horizon 2020 program. We are interested in adopting Spain's best practices and hope to get some help with further development of the Belarusian network of national contact points of the Horizon 2020 program,” the SSTC Chairman stressed.
During his visit to Spain, Alexander Shumilin met with Malaga Mayor Francisco de la Torre Prados. The parties discussed prospects for setting up a joint technology park and establishing cooperation between the technology parks of Malaga, Brest and Minsk.
A Belarusian delegation led by SSTC Chairman Alexander Shumilin is participating in Transfiere 2017, the 6th European Meeting for Science, Technology and Innovation, held in Malaga, Spain on 15 and 16 February. The expo showcases over 100 hi-tech and knowledge-intensive solutions and exhibits by organizations and institutions of the Belarusian Education Ministry, the National Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
