Scientists of Belarus, Russia called to join efforts for countries' technological independence

MINSK, 29 March (BelTA) - Belarusian and Russian scientists need to work together to ensure technological independence of the countries, State Secretary of the Belarus-Russia Union State Dmitry Mezentsev said on the sidelines of the Congress of Young Scientists of Belarus and Russia, BelTA has learned.

“Today is a unique event not only because we are gathering in the run-up to the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia. It is unique because many young scientists, who were still working in their laboratories, research institutes and centers yesterday, are now combining their plans and developing ideas for the sake of the real sectors of the economy, economic integration and technological independence and high competitiveness of our countries,” Dmitry Mezentsev said.

In his words, the cooperation between the two countries is stimulated by the Union State Treaty, signed more than 20 years ago, and not by the pressure of the West. “The decision of the heads of state to adopt 28 Union State programs was made in November 2021, before this frantic sanctions pressure was launched. This is the foundation of our development,” the state secretary of the Union State said.

He emphasized that cooperation between scientists of Belarus and Russia is widely developed today, including in pharmaceuticals, high technology, space, agriculture, and humanities. This is the basis for further development of technologies.

The decision to hold the congress of young scientists was made by the presidents of Belarus and Russia in December 2022. It is timed to the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia.

The congress is attended by young researchers from scientific organizations and higher educational institutions of the two countries. There are representatives of the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center and the Russian Academy of Sciences, including the St. Petersburg Scientific Center and the Siberian and Far Eastern Departments.

The plenary session “Young scientists: tasks and areas of cooperation for developing a single scientific and technological space between Belarus and Russia” is taking place on 29 March. Participants are discussing priority directions of international scientific and technical cooperation between young scientists of the two countries.