MINSK, 26 March (BelTA) – Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus Alexander Shumilin and Minister of Innovation and Technological Development of Serbia Nenad Popovic discussed the prospects of sci-tech and innovation cooperation between the two countries, including in agriculture and food, biotechnologies, nanomaterials, laser and chemical technologies, BelTA learned from the press service of the State Science and Technology Committee.
“Belarus' national priority areas in the scientific, technical and innovation sectors largely coincide with the Serbian ones. This is primarily energy, healthcare and pharmacy, information and communication technologies, bio and nanotechnologies. We suggest intensifying bilateral cooperation, including on joint scientific projects as part of the European Union's Horizon 2020 program,” said Alexander Shumilin. According to him, the potential for cooperation in science and technology is still hugely untapped, and Belarus and Serbia need to develop and deepen interaction in high technology.
The parties also discussed the meeting of the Belarusian-Serbian commission on sci-tech cooperation scheduled for 2019.
Belarus and Serbia have launched a contest of joint sci-tech projects for 2020-2021. Applications are open through 5 April. Belarusian and Serbian scientists are currently implementing ten projects (five on physico-mathematical sciences, two on chemical sciences and geosciences and three on agrarian and biological sciences).
Belarus and Serbia develop their sci-tech and innovation cooperation as part of the intergovernmental agreement signed on 6 March 1996.
