MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

<p style="text-align: justify;">
    <img width="1024" alt="Пресс-конференция, приуроченную ко Дню белорусской науки" src="/upload/medialibrary/146/gq9y8ogid7igxcl89jk6y4mcvnkod5hh.jpg" height="768" title="Пресс-конференция, приуроченную ко Дню белорусской науки">
</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
Belarusian Science Day is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of January.

The press conference, which took place today at the National Press Center, is dedicated to this important event in the life of the country’s scientific community.

Among the participants in the thematic event are the leadership of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the State Committee on Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, as well as a representative of the Ministry of Industry.

According to the Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Vladimir Gusakov, Science Day is a holiday for all of us: “Every person has a piece of a scientific worldview, a thirst for knowledge, and a desire for creativity.”

As the Chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technology Sergei Shlychkov informed, the State Committee on Science and Technology has been appointed as the coordinator of the preparation and holding of events dedicated to this holiday in 2024.

The main platform will be the National Library of Belarus. On January 26, an exhibition of the republic’s scientific achievements will take place at its grounds. 291 developments from 70 institutions and organizations of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Ministry of Education, the State Military-Industrial Committee, a number of ministries, as well as residents of technology parks will join the event.

During a meaningful conversation with representatives of state media, Minister of Education Andrei Ivanets outlined a number of key positions.

There are 34 accredited scientific organizations in the system of the Ministry of Education, including 21 universities. There are 7 science and technology parks, 3 registered technology transfer centers. About 5 thousand scientific and pedagogical workers are engaged in scientific research.

The head of the department focused on the most significant achievements of Belarusian scientists.

Among the most significant results of scientific and technical activities of organizations of the Ministry of Education in 2023, in June, the BSUSat-2 nanosatellite, manufactured at BSU according to the full production cycle, was successfully launched into low-Earth orbit; at the Unitechprom BSU enterprise, a production site was put into operation for the production of original bioresorbable multifunctional drugs developed by BSU scientists (Foscelantan, Prospidelong and Antispike); BSU Research Institute of Applied Physical Problems named after A.N. Sevchenko created and in June installed on the windows of the Russian segment of the International Space Station the SOVA video spectral equipment orientation system.

It was also noted that the “Information and analytical system for monitoring and analyzing activities in water protection zones IAS “Water Protection Zones”” has been developed for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and will be put into commercial operation by the end of January 2024, and the scientific and technological park of BNTU “ Polytechnic" received a certificate of its own production for the product "Knee Joint Endoprosthesis". By the way, 600 knee joint endoprostheses of various sizes have already been supplied to healthcare institutions of the republic and operations to implant them have begun.

An important area is interaction with industries. Domestic universities are actively involved in scientific and technical support of various sectors of the national economy. In the system of the Ministry of Education, 34 industry laboratories conduct research and development for organizations of 17 relevant ministries and departments of the country. As of January 1, 2024, 76 residents were registered in 7 university science and technology parks.

In order to integrate science into production, over the past year the department signed roadmaps with the Ministry of Industry, the Belneftekhim and Bellegprom concerns for the scientific supply of personnel to these sectors of the economy.

In terms of international cooperation, it is indicated that in 2023, 145 joint projects and about 300 contracts for the export of scientific and technical products were carried out with institutions and scientific organizations of foreign countries.

“This suggests that today international cooperation is developing quite actively. Evidence of this is a 160% increase in the export of scientific and technical products by scientific organizations compared to 2022,” Andrey Ivanets emphasized.

The Ministry of Education pays serious attention to training highly qualified scientists and supporting the research activities of young people. Last year, 167 doctoral and master's theses were defended in educational institutions and organizations subordinate to the department.

“The support of the Head of State for young scientists is also very important. Thus, an open competition was held to award scholarships of the President of the Republic of Belarus to talented young scientists and to award Presidential scholarships to graduate students. Such scholarships were received by 64 talented young scientists and 64 graduate students who work in priority areas of scientific, technical and innovative activities of the Republic of Belarus,” the Minister said.

Andrey Ivanets specifically noted the support of student science. Thus, this year the XXIX Republican competition of scientific works of students took place, where more than 3 thousand scientific works were presented. According to the results of the competition, 54 scientific works received the title of laureate, 730 students' scientific works were awarded first category diplomas.

The Ministry of Education, in order to support research work, appropriate grants are allocated for doctor students, graduate students and students.

The Minister also dwelled on the activities of the Council of Young Scientists under the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus: “The Republican Forum of Young Scientists from Higher Education Institutions, which was held in May last year at the Belarusian-Russian University in Mogilev for the second time, is already becoming traditional. I would also like to note the School of Young Scientists, which brought together more than 150 participants from university, academic, and industrial science on the basis of BSU.

Among the major projects that are currently being successfully implemented are “Science Begins with the Teacher” and “Scientific Weekend at the National Children’s Technopark”.

At the end of last year, roadmaps were signed with 7 ministries and the Children's Technology Park, which include a wide range of cooperation. The range is quite wide: providing relevant topics for research work, supporting the material and technical base, involving employees of these organizations in conducting the educational process.
</p>