Lukashenko discusses future of Belarusian science

The future of Belarusian science and the work of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) were the key topics of the meeting of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko with the working group to analyze the activities of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, BelTA correspondent reports.

At the beginning of the meeting, the head of state noted that the agenda included a serious conversation about how science, primarily academic, will develop, and how to live further - with or without science. “The answer is unambiguous,” the head of state said. Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized: “Without effective academic science, the development of the country will be problematic. With the science we have, we will not be able to accelerate and we will not achieve any success.”

As BelTA reported previously, the working group to analyze the activities of the National Academy of Sciences was established following the instruction of the head of state in June 2024. It works on a permanent basis and study the issues of practical orientation and effectiveness of scientific research and developments of NASB scientists, implementation of developments in the economy and social sectors, development of import-substituting products and technologies, export of scientific and technical products. Every year the president receives a report on the results of the group's work and proposals to address the identified problematic issues.

The head of state held the first meeting with the working group took place on 30 July 2024. Then, explaining the reason behind its creation, Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “We give all the priorities to science. It is impossible to develop without it. But recently I see that the Academy of Sciences has made serious miscalculations. Such things happen. Science is an area where you have to go off the beaten track, when you have to master serious problems, to conquer new peaks. Therefore, mistakes are possible of course. What alarmed me was the fact that mistakes were made by the Academy of Sciences where they should not be, where we have already learned something: in animal husbandry and crop production.”

The need for the working group was prompted by appeals from some specialists and members of the government. “I am convinced that we need to take a serious look at the development of academic science and make appropriate decisions in all areas,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to the president, there are a lot of issues related to the activities of the scientific community: “There are some successes, but dissatisfaction with the results is also high. The permanent working group headed by the chairman of the State Control Committee, who has been instructed to involve responsible competent specialists in the group's activities, is set to deal with all the issues of the NASB development.