MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – The government has great expectations from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB), Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin said as he was introducing the new Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences Vladimir Karanik to the staff of the academy, BelTA has learned.
“Vladimir Stepanovich is an experienced manager. He was the healthcare minister during the most difficult time – the pandemic period. He was also the Grodno Oblast governor, deputy prime minister in charge of social matters. And yesterday he got a new appointment; and in my opinion, it is the most important one in the career of Vladimir Stepanovich. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the National Academy of Sciences plays a crucial role, it is impossible to do without science today. Our century is the century of technology, scientific discoveries. In the run-up to the new five-year cycle, when new program documents are in the works, the government expects the National Academy of Sciences to get involved in the work and help fulfill the tasks set by the head of state,” said Aleksandr Turchin.
In his opinion, Vladimir Karanik will naturally fit into the NASB team. “And together we will solve the most challenging tasks facing our country. The government and the National Academy of Sciences have always worked in tandem, and it will remain so in the future, we will keep working together in the interests of Belarus. I want to wish you success in your new role,” the prime minister noted.
He also thanked the previous head of the National Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Gusakov, for his work. “Under his leadership, the National Academy of Sciences has achieved many significant results. We could list them endlessly. Thanks to Vladimir Grigorievich, our science has reached a new level. I am sure that the experience and knowledge of Vladimir Grigorievich will be useful to our country in the future,” the Belarusian head of government emphasized.
Vladimir Karanik spoke highly of the legacy of the National Academy of Sciences. “The team is the most valuable asset for any organization, and staff determines 95% of success of the National Academy of Sciences. I am sure that the glorious legacy of our academic institutions and the NASB will pave the way for a glorious future. We should build on the achievements of our predecessors while we are moving forward. We have ambitious tasks ahead. Now we are advancing to a new technological level, we will be entangled in a global competition for minds and innovations. Our task is to find our niche in this rapidly changing world, to equip our economy with the solutions that will make our products more competitive in foreign markets. That said, we should not sideline fundamental science, which lays the foundation for future achievements. The humanitarian field is also important. Our history helps us understand who we are as a nation, therefore we should remember our roots, our origins and preserve our identity. We will provide utmost support for all areas of science,” he emphasized.
According to him, Belarus ranks second in the CIS in terms of research and development expenditure (% of GDP). “Our development strategy provides for a significant increase in spending on science. Our task is to make sure that the increase in funding will lead to significant improvements in science, the emergence of new breakthrough projects that we will all be proud of,” the chairman of the NASB Presidium emphasized.
Follow us on:
