Belarus proposes Qatar to create a Center of excellence. Relevant proposal was voiced by the Chairman of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Mikhail Myasnikovich, at a meeting with research advisor of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Deputy Chairman of Qatar Science and Technology Park, Amir al-Saadi.
«Belarus is committed to strengthen friendship and cooperation with Qatar, including science and technology», the head of NASB said. According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, Academy of Sciences of Belarus has proposed Qatar about two dozens of scientific and technological projects for joint implementation. «It would be nice if Qatar Foundation helps us to arrange the work on these projects with Qatari scientific organizations», Mikhail Myasnikovich said, BelTA informs.
The supervisory body of Belarusian-Qatari scientific cooperation may become a joint Center of excellence. «We have prepared a relevant draft and an agreement on such center. The NASB has experienced team, which can properly organize such center and promote researches of environmental studies, health protection and in other areas», Mikhail Myasnikovich reported.
In his turn, vice chairman of the NASB, Sergei Rakhmanov, noted that excellence centers were actively created in Arab countries to develop cooperation with major scientific organizations. Center of excellence is an organizational structure, which will help to develop cooperation, will allow us to prepare and sign contracts», Sergei Rakhmanov stressed. However, it’s not only about the partnership under scientific development, but also the training of scientific personnel. In particular, NASB expressed its readiness to carry out the training of scientific personnel for Qatar.
«Formation of a new center will facilitate the signing of new production contracts, which would allow Belarusian scientists to sell their products in Qatar and in third countries», Sergei Rakhmanov said. «Today, Qatar funds many research programs in the Arab world, in Africa, has means for that purpose. Common results may be used in third countries. It is also about industrial and agro-technologies».
In his turn, Amir Al-Saadi stated that Qatar’s priority directions for scientific cooperation with Belarus are information technologies, medicine, energetics. «We will examine main areas and activities of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, we will see its strong points, what potential it has, and we’ll make conclusions about future cooperation», he said, while not ruling out the possibility to establish joint venture.
Cuba may participate in creation of major biotechnology center in Belarus
Moreover, vice chairman of the Presidium of NASB said that in Belarus in coming years it was planned to create major biotech complex. «This project is one of the largest in the state program of innovation development for 2011-2015. The creation of such a complex would cost hundreds billions of rubles, the final cost will be specified», Sergei Rakhmanov told.
New structure is planned to be established on the basis of the National Academy of Sciences, attracting investment through a number of banks, technical and financial investors.
Now, Belarus is in talks with potential partners, who may take part in the project. «It is planned to involve specialists from abroad on cooperation terms, to exchange technology with them and organize mass production of biotechnology products, including in the area of pharmaceutics and agro-industrial complex», vice chairman of NAS explained. It is expected that these products will be sold both in Belarus and its partner countries as well as in third countries.
According to Sergei Rakhmanov, Cuba is considered as priority partner on the project. «Belarus intends to involve this country in such alliance», Sergei Rakhmanov declared. «This state is not accidentally selected for cooperation. There created and operates a powerful pharmaceutical industry. Today, Cuba exports its products to many countries. This is one of the most competitive suppliers of vaccines to combat hepatitis in world’s market».
At the same time, negotiations on the project are carried out with other countries, NASB representative noted. «We will do everything a new biotech complex to be established in defined time limits and as efficiently as possible», Sergei Rakhmanov said.
Furthermore, vice chairman of NASB Presidium reminded that biotechnology is one of the priority directions of science and economy development of Belarus. Such technologies are related to agriculture, medicine and other spheres. Using biotechnology, scientists expect to combat many diseases, which seem to be incurable today, grow crops more effectively, etc. In Belarus, special emphasis is made on infrastructure development in the field of biotechnology. There worked out a program of «Innovative biotechnologies», which helps to create new productions in this industry, Sergei Rakhmanov reported.
