The grand-final of the 13th season of the national youth project "100 Ideas for Belarus" was held today in Minsk. Its anthem was presented at the opening ceremony.

The exposition at the National Children's Technopark presented more than 170 author's projects of the regional and Minsk city winners of the selection rounds, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and multi-stage selections of the Ministry of Education. For example, junior researcher of the Institute for Meat and Dairy Industry Victoria Kovaleva believes that Belarus has created all conditions for the realization of scientific potential, and the desire to realize her idea prompted her to develop technology for the production of lactose-free cheese. "In the process of work, we were able to achieve a threefold reduction in its carbohydrate content. In fact, it is a product for a healthy diet" - explained the young scientist.

Thanks to the model of wind power installation of Anastasia Shamko, a teacher of the capital's secondary school № 56 named after V.I. Ignatenko, not only in theory, but also in practice Belarusian schools will be able to generate electricity autonomously. The teacher assessed the possibilities: "Kamennaya Gorka, where the school is located, has a good wind potential, the prospects for such a generator are quite good. In this way, we are achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 7, "Clean and inexpensive electricity".

Traditionally, a special section "Realized" with the participants' developments of the previous seasons of "100 Ideas for Belarus" was opened within the framework of the project this year. They have already been implemented in the real economic sector.

Deputy Minister of Education Kateryna Petrutskaya noted during the opening of the Grand Final: "The project provides ample opportunities for all young people who live and study in our wonderful country to realize their innovative projects. The contest allows young people to take an active part in solving socio-economic problems that are at the highest level. It is gratifying to note that every time the number of applications submitted by universities increases. This year all of them are practice-oriented".

According to the results of the current season, the Expert Council determined several dozen winners in such nominations as "Energy, including nuclear power and energy efficiency", "Agro-industrial technologies and farming", "Industrial and construction technologies", "Health care (medical technologies, pharmacy, bio- and nano-industry)", "Chemical technologies, petrochemistry", "Information and communication technologies", "Ecology (rational nature management and deep processing of natural resources)", "National security and protection of natural resources", "National security and protection of the environment", "Energy efficiency and energy efficiency", "Energy efficiency and energy efficiency", "Agro-industrial technologies and farming", "Industrial and construction technologies".

The record number of winners is due to the changes made by the organizers in the regulations of the project "100 Ideas for Belarus" in terms of age categories of participants. Project manager, official representative of the Central Committee of the BRSM Katerina Lakisova said:"All of them are already winners, all of them are important and necessary, but nevertheless 30 winners in 10 nominations in three age categories have been determined.This is an innovation, previously we had two age categories.This year we evaluated separately students of schools and specialized secondary educational institutions, students and cadets, as well as working youth and young scientists. This way we achieved the largest number of winners in the history of the project".

According to First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Science and Technology Denis Korzhitsky, this competition is designed to find talents at an early age, which are able to develop our developments and activities in general, and this ultimately creates the competitiveness of the country.

More than 1300 applications were received this year to participate in the national youth project "100 Ideas for Belarus". All of them were subjected to local expertise.

The finalists' developments were evaluated by the Republican Expert Council. It consisted of representatives of relevant ministries, departments, organizations and enterprises. At the stage of selection, special attention was paid to the novelty, the reality of the idea, its profitability. Another innovation is the introduction of an additional evaluation criterion. At the stage of preparation for the new season, proposals were sent to the largest enterprises of the country to receive a request for the most necessary developments.

The winners will be provided with financial and partner support for the development of business plans. In addition, they will be eligible for inclusion in the President's special fund for social support of gifted and talented students and pupils.

In his welcoming speech to the winners of the 13th season finals of the project, Minister of Education of Belarus Andrei Ivanets emphasized: "The contest has truly become a brand of Belarus, which has gained very wide popularity not only among the youth of our country, but also beyond its borders in the CIS. "100 Ideas for Belarus" is another bright project, which is realized on the initiative of the Head of our state to support gifted and talented youth".

The project "100 Ideas for Belarus" is implemented by BRSM together with the Ministry of Education, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the State Committee for Science and Technology in order to activate innovative thinking of young people, involve them in solving the problems of socio-economic development of the country, stimulate civil initiatives to implement breakthrough projects and scientific and technical developments.