The measure will allow scientists to efficiently process the huge volumes of data from the Earth’s orbiting satellites, for processing and further distribution. Data is stored in e-archives, as ordinary computers lack enough processing power. In fact, multiple supercomputers are needed for the task, provided by the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences’ United Institute of Informatics Problems and the Russian Skolkovo Foundation. As a result, Belarusian scientific institutions will be able to use data from Russian satellites, while that from our Belarusian satellite — after its launch — will be shared with Russian researchers.
Our two countries’ interested agencies eagerly await the project, which is among many agreed during the Belarusian-Russian forum, recently held in Minsk. It was the largest event within Belarusian Innovation Week, with about 800 promising sci-tech developments on show. A hundred are expected to generate a real economic return in the near future, which inspired interest from 15 countries.
The Chairman of Belarus’ State Science and Technology Committee, Igor Voitov, notes the many agreements signed during the forum, including the establishment of a consortium which is to include the Kurchatov Institute. Several projects in the field of petro-chemistry are planned jointly with Finmash Group, in addition to the establishment of a centre of nano-technologies (with participation from the Planar State Scientific Production Association of Precise Mechanical Engineering and several Russian companies). New liaisons in heavy machine building are being negotiated, with the heads of Minsk’s High-Tech Park meeting Russian Skolkovo for the first time. Belarusian specialists already participate in several projects in the field of information-communication technologies, medicine and energy efficiency, while the High-Tech Park is ready for interaction in the IT industry.
Belarusian-Russian co-operation is developing dynamically via sci-tech and production programmes financed from the Union State budget. A special sitting was devoted to them, featuring representatives of the Union State Standing Committee. “A dozen joint programmes are already operational, with fourteen new ones outlined for the coming year,” stresses Mr. Voitov. “The concepts for ten have been approved, with others under development.”
The CIS Interstate Council on Co-operation in the Sci-Tech and Innovative Spheres discussed existing Union State programmes and Kazakhstan noted its readiness to contribute its effort. The three states — members of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space — plan to establish a EurAsEC venture fund by the end of the year, with each side injecting $1m at the initial stage — to facilitate the realisation of joint projects.
