Nizhny Novgorod, September 23. Global problems are being solved in science, and the dialogue between the professional community of Belarus and Russia allows this to be done effectively and successfully.

The XIII Forum of Universities of the Engineering and Technological Profile of the Union State kicked-off today at the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University named after R.E. Alekseev. It brought together leading educational institutions, specialists and students united by common interests in the field of engineering and technology.

The focus is on the pressing issues of the past year as well as defining a strategy for further development and a constructive exchange of experience.

The organizers of the traditional meeting of representatives of engineering universities of the two countries are the Belarusian National Technical University and the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University with the support of the Standing Committee of the Union State, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.

The forum’s key direction is the concentration of efforts of all participants to form a single educational and scientific-technological space of the Union State and the creation of an inter-university platform for the implementation of the main areas of Belarusian-Russian integration cooperation in priority areas of education, science and technology development.

The primary objectives of the forum are: exchange of experience between universities in the development of engineering education in the context of economic transformation, popularization of science and activation of creative activity among young students of the Union State, creation of conditions for development of youth innovative entrepreneurship.

Among other current issues for discussion are practices of interaction between universities with a technological profile and employer enterprises; network educational programs and inter-university cooperation.

As part of the "Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship" section, a competition of youth innovative projects will be held - Business Fight for the best youth startup of the Union State.

The forum will conclude its work on September 27 with a ceremonial awarding of the winners and the signing of a resolution.

The organizers expect that this event will help strengthen scientific and educational cooperation between scientists and students of Belarus and Russia, and will also contribute to the development of engineering and technology industries in both countries.