Belarus, Russia eager to intensify R&D cooperation

MINSK, 17 December (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia intend to intensify bilateral cooperation in R&D and innovations primarily through the implementation of new programs and projects of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The possibilities were discussed at a session of the commission on forming the common R&D space of the Union State on 17 December. The session was chaired by Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus Aleksandr Shumilin and Russian Deputy Science and Higher Education Minister Natalya Bocharova, the committee's press service told BelTA.

The sides discussed a number of matters, including an approximate list of priority R&D and innovative programs and projects of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, standard provisions on distributing rights to intellectual property assets, and a draft intergovernmental agreement on Belarus-Russia R&D cooperation. The existing agreement was signed in February 1996 and needs to be updated. Belarus and Russia are expected to polish the draft of the new agreement and complete intrastate reconciliation procedures in H1 2022.

Aleksandr Shumilin said: “Since digital technologies permeate all spheres of our life and new promising branches appear in R&D cooperation and innovation cooperation, we just have to update our agreement on cooperation in science and technology. The new document will allow encouraging scientists and specialists towards the development of progressive and innovative technologies both in Belarus and Russia.”

The seventh session of the commission on forming the common R&D space of the Union State of Belarus and Russia was held using videoconference technologies. Representatives of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus, the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the National Center of Intellectual Property, the state institution Belarusian Institute of System Analysis and Information Support for Scientific and Technical Sphere (BelISA), the Russian Science and Higher Education Ministry, the Russian Healthcare Ministry, and the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) took part in the session.

The commission on forming the common R&D space of the Union State of Belarus and Russia was established by the decision of the Union State Council of Ministers in 2017. The commission coordinates joint studies and development efforts, decides on priority directions of scientific, technological, and innovative cooperation. Close attention is paid to the realization of R&D programs of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.

The implementation of four programs continued in 2021, including programs on DNA identification, on the development of the Union State's hydrometeorological safety system, on the Union State compound animal feedstuff, and on the Union State integration. A number of new programs in the area of high technologies are in development. Those provide for development and production of mobile fiber optic locators, sensor systems for preventing natural and man-caused catastrophes, systems for designing and manufacturing microchips, technologies for high-yield agriculture and health-enhancing food industry, R&D efforts in the area of additive technologies and the production of modern industrial and consumer-grade 3D printers.

A total of about 60 programs providing for the development of new technologies and for creating innovative products have been implemented since 2000 within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The programs explored such areas as space technologies, microelectronics, information technologies, mechanical engineering, healthcare, and other areas.