MINSK, 20 February (BelTA) – It is high time to draw up a common budget or fund of the Eurasian Economic Union to finance research projects, Chairman of the Council of the Republic Mikhail Myasnikovich said at an extended session of the Scientific Advisory Board on Belarus' social and economic development at the presidium of the upper chamber of the parliament, BelTA has learned.
The domestic manufacturing sector is facing a number of serious challenges. These challenges should be addressed by joint regional projects, Mikhail Myasnikovich is convinced. “The EAEU will be incomplete without joint ventures and projects in mechanical engineering, chemistry, electronics, pharmaceutics, biotechnology, defense industry. I believe that it is time to draw up a common budget or fund of the Eurasian Economic Union to finance R&D projects and feasibility studies of breakthrough projects. This budget or fund should be similar to the Union State budget where over 50% of resources are used to finance Union State programs,” the speaker said.
Mikhail Myasnikovich is convinced that large-scale innovative projects should be implemented in the EAEU. He noted that for the three years of work the Eurasian Commission has not proposed a single project and has not even formulated approaches on this front. Meanwhile, according to the speaker, large joint stock companies would make a powerful integrating and cementing core of the Eurasian Economic Union, with common interests and business.
The meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board hosted by Belarusian State University discusses ways to improve scientific, engineering and innovative activities in the country. It has brought together members of the Presidium of the Council of the Republic, representatives of the State Science and Technology Committee, National Academy of Sciences, Education Ministry, Finance Ministry, Economy Ministry, heads of universities, research organizations and the real economy sector companies.
Recommendations to be adopted following the meeting will suggest informatization, investment, employment, youth policy and export as the basic areas for the improvement of legislation governing scientific, engineering, innovative and educational activities.
The participants of the meeting consider it appropriate to adopt common priorities for science, engineering and innovative activities in 2021-2025.
It will be proposed to continue improving conditions for the development of innovative youth entrepreneurship, including through the establishment of start-up centers at the country's leading research organizations.
The scientific advisory board advocates the development of incentive mechanisms for venture financing, the creation of additional conditions for attracting private investors to the innovation sector, and the reduction in the number of administrative procedures in relation to business activities.
According to experts, working on the amendments to the Education Code one should focus on the standards of effective personnel training for innovative, export-oriented enterprises, with a focus on practical implementation and strengthened cooperation with customer organizations.
The board suggests considering the possibility to develop a system for forecasting the need for scientific personnel and highly qualified specialists in the scientific and innovation sector of the country in general and in the context of different sectors of the economy, taking into account the country's scientific and technical priorities.
There are also proposals to monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of the “University 3.0” project in part of improving educational programs of higher education, extended education for adults, and the development of innovation infrastructure for further expansion of this experience.
