BREST, 18 June (BelTA) – Plans have been made to increase the number of R&D programs in the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The statement was made by State Secretary of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Grigory Rapota during the 54th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in Brest on 18 June, BelTA has learned.
Participants of the session discussed the main directions of formation and operation of the common R&D space of the Belarus-Russia union. The state secretary mentioned the importance of the topic. “I would like to underline that scientific and technical cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation is a key matter. Eight R&D programs have been approved. We are going to increase their number. We still have reserves for it,” said the official. Grigory Rapota noted that there are plans to award Union State prizes for achievements in the area of science and technology as from 2019.
According to Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus Alexander Shumilin, the joint efforts of scientists and research institutions will contribute to the manufacturing of new high-technology products with a high added value, primarily products in the sphere of information and telecommunication technologies, biomedicines, nanotechnologies, nuclear energy, and space industry. “The common priorities we should focus on have been determined. Close attention should be paid to the compilation of a list of priority R&D and innovative programs and projects bearing in mind conditions for their practical implementation,” stressed Alexander Shumilin.
In 2017 Belarusian and Russian scientists worked to implement eight R&D programs of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, including three new ones – spinal systems, the enhancement of the hydrometeorological security of the Union State, and DNA identification. A number of new programs in the area of high technologies are going through the approval process. The programs focus on the development and production of mobile fiber optic locators, sensor systems for preventing natural and man-caused catastrophes, systems for designing and manufacturing 90-65nm standard microchips, technologies for high-yield agriculture and health-enhancing food industry, the development in the area of additive technologies and the production of modern industrial and consumer-grade 3D printers.
The 54th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia took place in Brest on 18 June. Participants of the session discussed ways to bring Belarusian and Russian laws closer to each other with a view to enabling equal rights for citizens and commercial entities. Members of the Russian and Belarusian parliaments, representatives of the Standing Committee of the Union State of Belarus and Russia took part in the session. It was the first time that members of the Youth Chamber of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia had taken part in the session. The Youth Chamber had been established the day before.
