Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 29 January (BelTA) - The level of the country’s presence on the global market of new technologies becomes a deciding factor in determining its role and place in the global system of labor differentiation, Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee (SSTC) of Belarus Alexander Shumilin said in the article published in the January edition of the Belaruskaya Dumka magazine.

The SSTC head quoted the words of the head of state that new scientific developments, not savy financial schemes, will start up the dying engine of the world economy. The fact is acquiring particular importance in conditions of a severe lack of local sources of raw hydrocarbons and metals.

According to Alexander Shumilin, Belarus is not the only country that faces the issues of technological development, production modernization and re-equipment. This is a worldwide issue and it is predetermined by modern trends in technological development which is tightly intertwined with innovations. According to current beliefs, this interrelation will continue growing.

Studying the experience of Western Europe and Russia, their sales markets show that priority areas in Belarus’ sci-tech activity largely intersect with the goals of other countries in the area. In particular, the greatest interrelation can be seen in comparing development priorities of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation. The EU development strategy Europe 2020 has been approved for the EU countries, many of whom being in similar conditions as ours. The strategy makes focus on key technologies such as micro and nanoelectronics, photonics, nanotechnologies, advanced materials, biotechnologies, progressive production technologies and space exploration technologies. All the abovementioned was taken into account in the development of the fundamental documents determining Belarus’ development in a particular area.

According to Alexander Shumilin, in the future we will see even higher production intellectualization, a transfer to uninterrupted innovation process in the majority of branches and continuing education in the overwhelming number of professions. Requirements to living standards and the comfort of live environment will acquire the highest significance.