The Inter-academy Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Belarus National Academy of Sciences met in Minsk on June 29 to discuss the Union State development agenda. The Russian side was represented by Co-chair of the Inter-academy Council, RAS Vice President and Head of the Siberian Branch RAS Valentin Parmon and member of the Inter-academy Council, Director General of KarRC RAS Olga Bakhmet. The participants discussed the possibilities for joint research and the plans for an extended meeting in autumn. KarRC RAS leader presented a number of potential projects for cooperation with Belarus counterparts. They cover a wide range of issues – from the environment and biotechnology to the humanities and the social sphere.

On June 30th – July 1st Grodno hosted the 9th Forum of Belarusian and Russian Regions organized by the Council of the Republic under the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and the Federation Council under the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. It focused on discussing the role of interregional cooperation in deepening integration processes in the Union State. Olga Bakhmet made a presentation at the session “Common R&D space of Russia and Belarus as a way to ensure global competitive advantage and security of the Union State”. KarRC RAS Director General spoke about the prospects for Russian-Belarusian cooperation in greenhouse gas monitoring.

Considering the climate change problem and the need to fulfill commitments under the Paris Agreement there is a growing demand for research on the carbon- and greenhouse gas balance in natural ecosystems. For Karelia, most of which is covered in forest and wetlands, which are important carbon sinks, this topic of particular relevance. Greenhouse gas emissions are studied at KarRC RAS by specialists at the Institute of Biology, Forest Research Institute, and the Laboratory for Natural System Monitoring and Modeling of the Department for Multidisciplinary Research.

– A federal R&D Program on greenhouse gas monitoring is currently being created in Russia. We believe it expedient to extend the program to cover the Union State, – Olga Bakhmet remarked after the presentation.

On the second day of the forum, discussing sci-tech development matters, the participants arrived at the decision to create a large-scope research program in the Union State framework, which would largely focus on import replacement. It will be prepared by the RAS and Belarus NAS Inter-academy Council.

– The forum especially highlighted the role of Karelian researchers in what concerns natural sciences. We can deliver a wide spectrum of studies on various environmental perspectives and we possess adequate competencies for dealing with issues on the agenda, – KarRC RAS leader emphasized.

Belarusian scientists at the forum presented their practical developments, including those on which cooperation can be launched. Potentially useful for Karelia are technologies in microbiology and aquaculture. Another sphere of interest is the various uses of algae, substrates, fertilizers, fodders, etc.

– The experience of our Belarusian colleagues is very useful: they manage to move from the development of a technology by scientists to its practical application in very little time. On the other hand, discussions with colleagues showed that our scientists have developed a richer background on some matters. Thus, science cooperation between our countries is mutually beneficial, – Olga Bakhmet summed up.

Photo from Belta website