Events

MINSK, 31 October (BelTA) – A strategy headlined Science and Technology 2018-2040 is under development in Belarus. The Presidium of the Council of Ministers chaired by Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov reviewed the draft document on 31 October, BelTA has learned.

The draft strategy has been developed ahead of the second Congress of Belarusian Scientists. The strategy will become one of the key events of the Year of Science in Belarus.

As designed by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB), the strategy should define the top priorities of Belarus’ science and technology development for a long term. It is expected that the results of the strategy implementation will be achieved with proper financing by using the instruments suggested to stimulate science and technology development and improve public administration in science.

The NASB strategy takes into account recommendations of the Council of the Republic, the Belarus President Administration, government bodies and agencies, academic and sectoral institutions and organizations, and also universities.

“The strategy Science and Technology 2018-2040 will become a reference document for programs on science and technology development, mid-term and long-term forecasts. This is why I invite everyone to pay attention to it. This is not an abstraction or a remote prospect. The matter we are considering today is extremely relevant,” Andrei Kobyakov remarked.

Chairman of the NASB Presidium Vladimir Gusakov told the media that every country has a similar strategy. The NASB explored and synthesized the world’s best practices as it was drawing up the document. Vladimir Gusakov stressed that science is developing rapidly; new solutions emerge in information technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other fields. “Needless to say, our country should keep up with this process. We have a good potential and highly qualified specialists for scientific development,” he added.

The strategy is meant to map out events for three stages: 2018-2020, 2020-2030, and 2030-2040. The document will outline the guidelines and development indicators for each of them. The funding of science is expected to increase. One of the vital measures will be preparations for a new industrial revolution, known as Industry 4.0. It is based on informatization and digital economy. However, the introduction of new technologies will require taking into account the specific nature of the Belarusian manufacturing and its specialization, Vladimir Gusakov summarized.