Lukashenko: Academy of Sciences failed to become driver of Belarus’ advanced sci-tech development

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has not become a driver of the country’s advanced sci-tech development at the current stage, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko noted during today’s meeting with the working group to analyse the NAS activities

photo: www.president.gov.by

Back in October 2023, at a meeting on improving the system of planning and control over the implementation of strategic projects, Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed to seriously analyse the NAS work. For this purpose, a permanent working group was set up in June 2024, comprising authoritative scientists and competent experts and headed by Chairman of the State Control Committee Vasily Gerasimov. At the end of July this year, the President had the first big meeting with the working group. But it was only a preliminary conversation, a sort of fine-tuning and work course adjustment. The participants of the meeting agreed to review the results of the analysis at the end of the year.

Today, at the very beginning of the meeting, the Head of State announced a serious conversation about how our science, primarily academic science, will develop further, “Without effective academic science, the country’s development will be problematic. But with such science as we have at the National Academy of Sciences, we will not speed up and we will not make any progress. I’m not claiming that; this follows from the materials I was presented with.”

The President clarified that two reports on the NAS activities were submitted to him for consideration. One was prepared by an established working group and the other one was proactively prepared by the NAS leadership on the results of the Academy of Sciences’ functioning. The provisions of this report are the consolidated position of the NAS leadership and the scientific community. Based on this, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that in this situation he had decided that the provisions of the report and conclusions analysed at today’s meeting would be considered at the NAS meeting.

“This is an important topic for Belarus. We will not be able to develop the country further without science. We have already done everything that we could squeeze intensively and extensively from what we have in the country. We need to develop further, relying on science. Investments in science and technology have become a key condition for the well-being of the state, a guarantee of progressive competitive development. We invest in domestic science, support new scientific directions, and create the most favourable conditions. Unfortunately, the Academy of Sciences has not become a driver of the country’s advanced sci-tech development at the current stage. We have critically few breakthrough scientific achievements. We do not see the impact that we expected from the NAS activities. There is no profit from the NAS research and development while this is the main criterion for assessing efficiency. I know people say that science should be given more money. I would say this: no one will work for free if there is a result. You will be rewarded.”