17 February 2026, 12:32

Lukashenko calls for scientific breakthrough to boost real economy

MINSK, 17 February (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has stated the need for a qualitative scientific breakthrough as the innovative foundation for developing the real economy as he heard the government’s 2025 report on 17 February, BelTA has learned.

“We are expecting a qualitative scientific breakthrough as the innovative foundation for developing the real economy. The most agile person has been appointed to lead the Academy of Sciences – intelligent, competent, proactive. Much has been said in recent months. Two years ago, we created the Council for Strategic Projects, including scientists and ministers, enterprise heads and a banker. However, I have seen neither promising initiatives nor even minor projects from this organization,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president inquired which of the council’s proposals had been included in the State Program for Innovative Development for the five-year period and stated that so far, he observes “only a process reduced to meetings and reporting to themselves.” “The country has a consistently low rate of commercialization of scientific research. Not even 10% of existing industrial productions can be classified as high-tech,” the head of state emphasized.

The president instructed Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) Vladimir Karanik, together with the deputy prime ministers, to work out one or two truly strategic projects for the country in line with the priorities approved by the Belarusian People’s Congress. “We need to see results from science!” the Belarusian leader said.