Gusakov speaks about Belarus' recent scientific breakthroughs

Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Vladimir Gusakov spoke about the developments and innovations in the national science in an interview to STV Channel, BelTA has learned.

According to Vladimir Gusakov, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko pays great attention to the development of national science. “The head of state said that he would like to see a more prominent role of science and wider implementation of scientific developments. In this regard, we have put up clusters at the Academy of Sciences, end-to-end clusters of search, research and practice together with enterprises. We work with many enterprises and industries, from BelAZ to the production of many devices, equipment for different sectors of the national economy. When science is absent, its necessity is immediately visible. When it is present and works together with industries, enterprises and everything goes well, then its role is not seen,” said the chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences.

He added that scientists have recently been focused on practical developments. “As for fundamental studies, we have 12 programs of fundamental research. These are powerful programs, large-scale ones. They are foundation and basis for future research. The national economy is much interested in applied research, development and implementation. There is a group of scientific and technical programs, state programs and individual projects where these developments are performed in all sectors,” Vladimir Gusakov said.

One of the large-scale and ambitious projects of domestic scientists, especially in the field of import substitution, is the development of the Earth remote sensing satellite. “If earlier we could make it with Russia, now we have the opportunity to develop our own. This is import substitution. This is done with our closest partner. The task is to build two constellations by 2028. As for Belarus, we can be ready by 2024-2025, that is what we have set ourselves. Moreover, even a manned flight is planned in the near future,” the chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus said.

As for the preparation of Belarusian female cosmonauts, Vladimir Gusakov said that they are now undergoing preliminary training. “Since they are cosmonauts-researchers, we have developed a program for their training at the Academy of Sciences. They have to master the methods and what they have to research in different areas,” he noted. “They will have assignments in biotechnology, in medicine and in otherareas. They have to learn these techniques in order to do the work very quickly. Everything goes according to the plan, our agreements. In the near future they will go to Russia to train on simulators.”

In his Address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly, the president put forward the idea of developing a lineup of batteries for electric cars. “We are working on this lineup. The lineup will include batteries for small vehicles, bicycles and even for BelAZ vehicles. The work on such a lineup is in progress, and not only on the basis of globally recognized elements such as lithium. We are trying to work through our technologies, elements, on the basis of sodium-graphene batteries and storage units. Our efforts are showing good results, but yet these are test-bench runs,” Vladimir Gusakov told about the scientific developments, adding that the head of state has set a task to develop working models by this summer.

Vladimir Gusakov also spoke about the funding sources for science. According to him, in addition to budgetary funds, there are many channels to finance science. “There are also funds of enterprises, contracts of scientists with enterprises, industries, ministries and regions. We have a good source of foreign funds. There are projects for which we receive tens and hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars. Connections and contacts, and projects continue, despite all the sanctions. Of course, we focus more on Russia and China, and we work with Vietnam. We have stepped up our work with India, Egypt, other countries. We also continue cooperation with the Western countries,” Vladimir Gusakov added.

In his words, the scientific community is making proposals to the government to improve legislation in science, regulation, funding and management, while revolutionary and radical changes are not expected because in recent years the Belarusian science has been optimized, systematized and perfected.