The main theme of the Congress of Young Scientists of Belarus and Russia, held in Minsk, is “Young scientists: tasks and directions of interaction to create a common scientific and technological space of Belarus and Russia”. It is attended by about 500 young researchers of scientific organizations, higher educational institutions of the two countries - representatives of the National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", the Russian Academy of Sciences and a number of its regional scientific centers, departments and institutes, as well as the National Academy of Sciences and dozens of leading universities and research institutes of Belarus .

The scientific event is held on the eve of the Day of Unity of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia. This is not just a coincidence. After all, science is the most powerful integration component.

Yesterday, on the basis of scientific organizations of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the work of 7 thematic sections was organized, at which reports were made by representatives of the Council of Young Scientists under the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus. Young researchers exchanged experience in conducting scientific research, found out what opportunities there are for joining efforts. Among the key areas of discussion are artificial intelligence, environmental management, and modern biotechnologies.

Today, a plenary session of the Congress of Young Scientists of Belarus and Russia was held, which was attended by representatives of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus, heads of the Standing Committee of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the Ministry of Education, other ministries and departments, leading scientific centers of the two countries.

In his speech at the plenary session, Minister of Education Andrei Ivanets emphasized active cooperation in the field of higher education and science between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation. “An important platform for interaction is the Association of Universities of Russia and Belarus, at whose forums issues of the quality of education and its accessibility are discussed in the interests of sustainable growth of the intellectual resource of the two countries,” the head of the Belarusian department noted.

A number of joint Belarusian and Russian initiatives have been implemented to train young scientists and stimulate their interest in scientific activities. Thus, the Belarusian National Technical University, together with the Pskov State University, take part in the implementation of the state program of the Russian Federation "Scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation", within the framework of which a project is being implemented to create an advanced engineering school of the Union State in the field of machine tool building.

In early January this year, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation signed a Plan for the development of cooperation for 2023-2024. The plan provides for holding such significant events as: participation of representatives of the education system of the Union State in the Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus; holding events within the framework of the activities of the Association of Schools of Belarus and Russia; development of a joint program of the Union State in the field of pre-university education; ensuring the activities of the joint Russian-Belarusian working group on continuing professional education for high-tech and science-intensive industries of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation; organizing the participation of schoolchildren from the Russian Federation in the Forum of Young Researchers "The Way to Science".

An important component of scientific cooperation is the integration of young scientists. Representatives of the Council of Young Scientists under the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus take part in international events, the most significant - the Forum of Young Scientists of the CIS Member States "Science without Borders"; Youth in Science - 2022.

A lot of work is being done in the Republic of Belarus to support young scientists. At the Republican level, a system has been created to stimulate and attract talented youth to the scientific field. Annually, an open competition is held for awarding scholarships of the President of the Republic of Belarus to talented young scientists and an open competition for awarding scholarships of the President of the Republic of Belarus to graduate students.

The Ministry of Education conducts an annual competition of research works of doctoral students, graduate students, applicants and students for their implementation at the expense of the republican budget, provided by the ministry for the allocation of grants. According to the results of the competition in 2022, 6 doctoral students, 36 graduate students, 26 students and 50 author teams of students of higher education institutions became grant holders.

In order to attract talented youth to the scientific field, the department annually organizes a republican competition of students' scientific works. In 2022, students and graduates of 50 institutions of higher education took part in it, presenting 3356 scientific papers. According to the results of the competition, 59 scientific works received the title of laureate, and 843 received the 1st category.

“I am sure that the Congress of Young Scientists will become another significant dialogue platform for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience, an opportunity to search for new vectors of scientific and technical cooperation, an additional impetus for the consolidation of young people and further convergence of the educational and scientific systems of the two countries,” says Andrei Ivanets.

It should be noted that the program of the large-scale event is full of content. These days, young scientists of Belarus and Russia are not only discussing the creation of joint research teams to implement the scientific and technical programs of the Union State, looking for common ground on the topics of ongoing scientific research, but also getting acquainted with the laboratories and research equipment of Belarusian research institutes, exhibits of achievements of Belarusian scientists, with the historical and cultural heritage of Belarus.

Also, within the framework of the congress, the grand opening of a branch of the Russian National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" on the basis of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus will take place.