The Belarusian Institute Of System Analysis And Informational Support Of Scientific And Technical Sphere

SCST considered work results of 2012 and discussed the plans for 2013
Document address: http://belisa.org.by/en/news/e8849be0569abb4c.html

08.02.2013

Work results of the State Committee on Science and Technology of the Republic of Belarus (SCST) and the subordinated organizations of 2012 have been considered and the tasks for 2013 have been discussed at the session of the board of the SCST. Vladimir Semashko, I Deputy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus, Gennady Palchik, Chairman of The Standing Commission on Education, Culture and Science of the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Zhuravlev, Director of the Science and Innovation Development Department of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, Sergey Chizhik, Deputy of the Chairman of the Presidium of the NAS of Belarus, Alexander Zhuk, I Deputy of the Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus, representatives of other state governing bodies and organizations and regional executive committees of the Republic have taken part in the work of the board.

Igor Voitov, Chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technology, has made a keynote report. According to him, the main activity of the SCST of the reporting period was oriented to further perfection of the system of the state management in scientific-technical and innovation areas and in the field of protection of the rights to IP items. Igor Voitov has noticed that the issues of science area reformation and cardinal reconstruction were considered, the complex of measures oriented to revival, consolidation and development of scientific-technical supply of branches, optimization and efficiency enhancement of academic and institutional sectors of science was prepared and approved in the Government of Belarus in cooperation with the SCST and the NAS of Belarus. 

The performance of Belarusian innovation development was mainly provided in 2012. These goals were stipulated by the main program documents of the Republic of Belarus: the percentage of innovation products (the performance keeps being realized enough: 17.9% comparing with the plan of 2012 which was 13.5–14.5% ); the percentage of innovation active organizations (the performance keeps being realized enough with the estimated percentage of 25% comparing with the plan of 2012 which was 25%); the science intensity of GDP (the performance keeps being realized enough: 0.9-1.1% comparing with the plan of 2012 which was 1%, the threshold value of scientific-technological safety is 1%).

It stands to mention that the expenditures for the material-technical basis of science for the first time in recent years exceeded 10% budget expenditures for science and account for 11.4%, and the performance of export volume of hi-tech products is 4 billion USD comparing with the plan which is 3.9 billion USD).

Belarus in International Ratings

According to the index of knowledge (it means to be able to generate, apprehend and spread scientific knowledge), Belarus went up from the 52nd position to the 45th position in the rating of 146 countries of the world leaving behind all the CIS countries except Russia (the 43rd position). According to the index of economy of knowledge (it means an availability of the conditions in the country for efficient use of scientific knowledge with the purpose of economic development) the Republic of Belarus went up from the 73rd position to the 59th position being a bit inferior than 2 CIS countries (Russia, the 55th position, and Ukraine the 56th position). Under the report of the World Organization of Intellectual Property Belarus is on the 6th position in accordance with the number of applications for inventions for 1 billion USD of the GDP being a bit inferior than Korea, Japan, China, Germany and the USA; the 4th position in accordance with the number of applications for inventions for 1 million USD for research and development expenditures being a bit inferior than Korea, Japan, China. Speaking about the significance of the global competitive power rating in respect of Belarus, Igor Voitov, Chairman of the State Committee on Science and Technology, has noticed that the countries of the highest quality of human potential are leading in development. “Naturally, the inclusion of these indicators in the rating shows the potentials of the bases for growth in new economic conditions. The positions in the ratings are important also because each country is characterized with details” Igor Voitov emphasized.

Financing of Scientific, Scientific-Technical and Innovation Activities

The expenses for financing of scientific, scientific-technical and innovation activities were fixed at the rate of 1 389.5 billion rubles for 2012 by the national budget. But while preparing of proposals on correction of the national budget for 2012, the Ministry of Finances carried out reduction in planned assignments in the field of scientific, scientific-technical and innovation activities in the total volume of 73.4 billion rubles (5.3% of planned assignments for 2012) without coordination with the state customers in the prescribed manner. As a result, the adjusted volume of expenses of the national budget for scientific, scientific-technical and innovation activities accounts for 1316.1 billion rubles.

Results of Implementation of the State Program of Innovation Development for the Period from 2011 to 2015

243 very important projects were implemented within the State Program of Innovation Development in 2012. The realization of the following stages was ensured:

“Entry into operation” for 33 very important projects (38 projects were in the plan) also by the customers: 5 projects by the Ministry of Health, 4 projects by the NAS of Belarus and the Minsk regional executive committee, 3 projects by the Ministry of Industry, the concern “Belneftehim” and the Vitebsk regional executive committee, 2 projects by the Ministry of Construction and Architecture, the Ministry of Education, the Brest regional executive committee, the Minsk municipal executive committee, 1 project by the Ministry of Energetics, the concern “Bellesbumprom” and the Mogilev regional executive committee;

“Attainment of projected capacity” of the productions for 20 very important projects (20 projects were in the plan) also by the customers: 3 projects by the concern “Belneftehim” and the Brest regional executive committee; 2 projects by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Energetics, the Minsk municipal executive committee, 1 project by the Ministry of Construction and Architecture, the Ministry of Communication, the Ministry of Traffic, the concern “Bellesbumprom” and the regional executive committees of Grodno and Minsk.

The completion of the stages “Entry into operation” for 69 projects and “Attainment of projected capacity” of the productions for 42 projects has been planned.

Normative Legal Base Development

The following normative legal acts were adopted in 2012: 4 Laws of the Republic of Belarus, 4 Decrees of the President of the Republic of Belarus, 6 enactments of the Council of Ministers, 11 enactments of the SCST.

The normative legal acts adopted in 2012 develop and concretize the regulations of the normative legal base existed in the field of scientific-technical activity. They are destined to ensure the practical implementation of the set tasks in the field of scientific-technical activity by the State governing bodies within its competence. They are aimed at the development of economy and enhancement of competitive power of commodities and the scientific-technical potential of the country on the whole by means of regulation of the financing order at the expense of the state budgetary means and development of the mechanisms of stimulation of scientific-technical and innovation activities. But the mentioned normative legal acts do not comprehend and stipulate all the variety of scientific-technical activities which keeps perfecting and changing also by means of integration into the Eurasian Economic Community. The adopted normative legal documents stipulate the measures for further development of scientific-technical and innovation activities also by means of adoption of other normative legal acts.

Development and adoption of normative legal acts is planned.

By reference

Draft Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus “On Additional Terms for Efficient Commercialization of Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activity Results Achieved at the Expense of the State Budget”

Draft Law of the President of the Republic of Belarus “On Introduction of Amendments into the Tax Code of the Republic of Belarus” (establishment of the unified scale of patent duties and implementation of the Clause 5 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus of July 9, 2012).

Introduction of Amendments into the Decrees of the President of the Republic of Belarus:

• No. 1 of January 3, 2007 “On Adoption of Regulations of Establishment Order of Innovation Infrastructure Items”;
• No. 631 of October 23, 2006 “On Structure, Functions and a Number of Employees of Local Executive and Regulatory Authorities”;
• No. 1 of January 4, 1999 “On Adoption of a Unified Legal Classifier of the Republic of Belarus”
• No. 150 of March 29, 2012 “On Certain Issues of Leasing and Property Use on Non-Repayable Basis”;
• No. 174 of March 25, 2008 “On Perfection of the Activities of the Belarusian Innovation Fund”;
• No. 631 of October 23, 2006 “On Structure, Functions and a Number of Employees of Local Executive and Regulatory Authorities”;
• No. 357 of August 7, 2006 “On Structure, Functions and a Number of Employees of Local Executive and Regulatory Authorities”.

Draft Law of the President of the Republic of Belarus “On Introduction of Amendments into the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Patents for Breeds”;

Draft Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus “On Additional Measures of Stimulation of International Trade, Export of Scientific-Technical Products, Exclusive Rights to Results of Intellectual Activity, Services and Works”;

Draft Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus “On Introduction of Amendments into Certain Decrees of the President of the Republic of Belarus Concerning the Issues of Formation and Use of Innovation Fund Means and Annulment of Certain Provisions of Certain Decrees of the President of the Republic of Belarus” (introduction of amendments into 36 normative legal acts);

“On Introduction of Amendments into the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus no. 362 of July 5, 2002” (ensuring the establishment of remuneration for scientific workers without applying a the wage scale depending on the level of significance and demand for researches and scientific-technical developments).

Innovation Activity and Innovation Development of the Regions

5 regional scientific-technical programs (RSTP) of such regions as Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Minsk and Mogilev were implemented in 2012. The total number of program tasks was 37. In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus on the national budget for 2012, the expenses of the state budget of the volume of more than 9 billion rubles for the financing of the RSTP tasks have been approved. The volume of financing for the RSTP tasks approved by the SCST orders was 5381.919 million rubles in 2012.

The most effective programs in accordance with the volumes of adoption of scientific-technical products are the programs of the regions of Brest and Vitebsk.

Innovation Infrastructure Entities

At present there are 16 legal persons registered as innovation infrastructure entities in the prescribed manner (including 11 hi-tech parks). 68 residents of hi-tech parks containing 621 working places have been registered in the current period.

Training of High-Qualified Scientific Workers

Recently the purposeful work oriented to development of the area of science and its personnel potential in accordance with the goals and tasks of the State Program of Innovation Development of the Republic of Belarus.

Certain measures have been taken for perfection of the system of planning and formation of the contingent of postgraduates and candidates in order to overcome the existing disproportions in the branch specializations of postgraduates in accordance with the priority areas of science and technology.

The process of establishment of the efficient system of feedback between consumers of high-qualified scientific brainpower and the training system of them has been going on. Branch ministries, concerns and regional executive committees (if there are no postgraduate courses and institutions of doctoral candidacy in the subordinated organizations) are involved in the process of planning.

120 Belarusian organizations carried out the training of postgraduates in 2012 (75 scientific organizations and 45 institutions of higher education). The number of postgraduates was 4968 as of the 1st of January of 2012; 4528 of them studied at the expense of the state budget. On the whole, 496 postgraduates were given training in the fields ensuring development of hi-tech productions of V and VI modes of economy as on the beginning of 2012 (it is 11.4% of the whole number).

Results of Implementation of Scientific-Technical Programs

28 state scientific-technical programs (SSTP), 10 branch (BSTP), 6 regional (RSTP), sections of 22 scientific support of state programs (1330 tasks) were implemented in 2012.

Work scopes were approved by the orders of the SCST with the volume of budget financing of 506 990.4 million rubles. It is 99.0% of the whole volume.

More than 70 alterations were made in the program tasks; the expert examination of more than 1000 programs was carried out in 2012.

International Scientific-Technical Collaboration

The agreements on scientific-technical collaboration with 37 foreign countries were within international scientific-technical collaboration.

The agreements on scientific-technical collaboration were concluded in 2012.

1. The agreement on collaboration in the field of science and technology between the SCST and the ministry of science, technology and environment of the Republic of Cuba.
2. The agreement on collaboration in the field of science and technology between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
3. The memorandum on mutual understanding between the SCST and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Israel on the issues of scientific-technical collaboration.
4. The agreement on establishment of the Intergovernmental Belarusian-Chinese Commission specialized in collaboration in the field of high technologies between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the People's Republic of China

International (interdepartmental) agreements on scientific-technical collaboration with 4 countries (Myanmar, Indonesia, Oman, Mongolia) are expected to be concluded in 2013.

The agreements on scientific-technical collaboration with 8 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Laos, Thailand, Romania, Slovakia, Israel and Uzbekistan) are expected to be concluded by 2015.

At present 12 scientific-technical programs of the Union State have been implemented. The conceptions have been elaborated for 20 program projects. The implementation of scientific-technical programs of the Union State, such as Trayektoria and Cosmos-NT, have been completed. Great attention was paid to the issues of organization of collaboration within the programs of the EU, collaboration with the leading international organizations and centers (the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, the European Nuclear Research Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the World Intellectual Property Organization). Belarus has been taking part in the 7th Frame Program of Scientific-Technological Development of the EU (2007-2013), the biggest and very prestigious program on international collaboration. There are 33 projects Belarusian partners participate in and with the budget of 2.5 million euros. The section of scientific-technical developments of Belarusian scientists (the collective stand of the SCST) was organized at 13 international exhibitions and fairs (9 exhibitions overseas and 4 ones in Belarus) in 2012.

The SCST took part in preparation and holding of 22 international scientific-practical workshops and scientific-practical conferences in 2012.

Concluding the speech, Igor Voitov, Chairman of the SCST, determined the main tasks of the department and scientific-technical area for 2013. They are: modernization of the national economy in accordance with the priority areas of scientific-technical activity and the State Program of Innovation Development for the period from 2011 to 2015 including formation of a new economic sector (hi-tech science-intensive enterprises and productions corresponding to the V and VI technological modes); increase in the proportion of shipped products up to 16-17%; increase in the percentage of innovatively active organizations up to 30%; growth of science-intensity of the GDP up to 2.2-1.4%; increase in the percentage of the export of science-intensive and hi-tech products in the total volume of the Belarusian export up to 10%; perfection of the system of management and enhancement of efficiency of the national innovation system; accelerated development of branch science (formation of branch-wise and territorial integrated structures, such as holdings, clusters, etc.); continuation of the work oriented to establishment of the mechanisms of venture financing); completion of accreditation of scientific organizations in 2013; development of the state system of scientific-technical information; development of the legislation in the field of intellectual property taking into account international standards, etc.

Sergey Chizhik, Deputy of the Chairman of the Presidium of the NAS of Belarus, Alexander Zhuk, I Deputy of the Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus, and others also made speeches and reports.

Source: SCST