University science brings innovations and is basis for knowledge development
Education and science are two inextricably linked fields mutually complementing each other. Belarusian Education system has at its disposal 34 approved scientific organizations including 21 universities. In all, more than 4,5 thousand researchers are involved. Subordinate organizations on annual basis do about 1,3 thousand scientific and research works, they are participating in 12 state scientific research programs, two state scientific and technic programs and work hard under thousands of business contracts signed with enterprises of the real sector of the economy.
Scientific organizations under the Ministry of Education participate in approximately 100 joint international projects with partners from Russia, China, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Education Ministry remains a leader in scientific training, with over 2,450 people enrolled in graduate and doctoral programs. In 2025, 122 dissertations were defended at subordinate organizations—almost half of the national total. Particular attention is paid to supporting young researchers: in 2026, 39 graduate students and 26 young scientists from the Ministry of Education received scholarships from the President of Belarus.
Student scientific and technical creativity is actively developing. 16 student design bureaus have been established at 13 universities and more will open in 2026. Grant competitions, the National Student Research Paper Competition, the Science Festival, and other events bringing together young scientists are held annually.
In 2026, the key objectives of university research are to strengthen the applied focus of research, expand the participation of leading regional universities in six regional scientific and technical programs as lead implementers, increase the share of faculty with PhDs to 45% by 2030, increase extra-budgetary funding for R&D, and maximize the involvement of faculty and graduate students in research.
Particular emphasis is placed on supporting young researchers, gifted students, and developing the startup movement, student design bureaus, youth technical creativity centers, the National Children's Technology Park, and specialized engineering classes.
A high-quality and effective solution to these ambitious goals is only possible through close collaboration between university, academic, and industry research. A cooperation agreement between the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Ministry of Education, along with relevant collaboration matrices, is planned for the near future. Work will also continue to strengthen partnerships with industry ministries—the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Housing and Public Utilities, Belneftekhim, and others.
Among the most significant achievements of university research in 2025 is the development by BNTU scientists of an innovative hybrid technology for the formation of wear-resistant coatings for the Belarusian Steel Works, which increases wear resistance by 1.5-2 times and productivity by up to 15 times. BNTU specialists have developed polymer fiber dyeing technologies for Mogilevkhimvolokno, expanding the product range and enhancing its competitiveness.
Brest State Technical University has developed and implemented a comprehensive robotic palletization system for finished products at the Santa-Bremor plant. Scientists from the Belarusian State University have created the "Natural Resources of Belarus" information and analytical system for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, as well as a textile-based fire-retardant heat-insulating composite material comparable in properties to imported analogues, but more cost-effective due to the use of domestic raw materials.
BSUIR has developed and approved units of power and attenuation of electromagnetic oscillations as national standards. The BNTU Polytechnic Technopark, together with the Republican Scientific and Practical Centers of the Ministry of Health, has launched the production of four new medical devices for traumatology and neurosurgery.
Interdepartmental cooperation is developing well: for example, BSTU scientists, together with the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, have developed chemically pure cellulose from flax fibers as a replacement for imported cotton for the production of energy-rich materials. Its production is planned at the Orsha Flax Mill.