MINSK, 1 February (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia plan to implement nine scientific and technical Union State programs in 2024, Deputy State Secretary of the Belarus-Russia Union State Aleksei Kubrin said ahead of a meeting with representatives of ministries and departments of Belarus - state customers of programs and activities of the Union State at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) on 1 February, BelTA has learned.
According to Aleksei Kubrin, the Union State programs are regularly revised as part of general monitoring. “All documents are signed, and all set goals are met at each stage,” he emphasized.
As for financing, a 38% increase in funding has been approved for this year. “Last year the funds within the framework of the Union State Standing Committee activities, including the Union State programs, equaled RUB 5 billion. Today this figure exceeds RUB 6 billion,” he said.
According to him, next year the funds will definitely stay at the same level or will even increase. “Activities under all the programs have been scheduled for implementation throughout this year. These funds will surely be used in full,” Aleksei Kubrin said.
Plans for 2024 also includes the implementation of six out of the seven programs from the previous year. These are three programs in national security – “Improvement of border security of the Union State”, “Improvement of military infrastructure facilities planned for joint use in the interests of regional group of troops (forces) of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation”, “Modernization of logistics facilities planned for joint use in the interests of regional group of troops (forces) of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation”. Three high-tech programs will be implemented this year. These are “Development of advanced basic technological processes for obtaining functional materials, structures, components and modules for high-performance photonics products in the Union State” (Component-F), “Development of basic elements of orbital and ground facilities in the interests of creating multi-satellite constellations of small-size spacecraft for observation of the Earth's surface and near-Earth space” (Complex-SG), and “Development of smart high-tech digital and electronic components and systems for special and dual-use vehicles” (Intelavto).
According to the deputy state secretary, today's meeting at the NASB will focus on new high-tech projects for the first time. All projects and programs that will be submitted for approval will be considered within the existing budget, Aleksei Kubrin added.
Three more programs will be added. These are the measures to improve information resources, continue work on eliminating the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and also the Soyuz-Biomembranes healthcare program. “We expect that nine Union State programs will be under implementation this year,” Aleksei Kubrin said.
