OREANDA-NEWS. April 19, 2011. Belarus’ Government will create all necessary conditions to strengthen cooperation between Russian and Belarusian scientists, Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said as he met with President of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) Yury Osipov and RAS Vice President Zhores Alferov.

“Belarus’ Government will create all necessary and comfortable conditions to strengthen and augment scientific cooperation of both countries and make it mutually beneficial,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

He noted that Belarusian and Russian scientists have a number of joint projects, both international and within the framework of the Union State. “I think it is a start,” the Prime Minister said. He also expressed confidence that the EurAsEC innovative fund will contribute a lot to the development of Belarus-Russia scientific and technical cooperation. The creation of this fund is currently under consideration. “It could at least facilitate exploration works. The fact that we organize joint contests and each country provides financing to the participants from this country is good. But it is not enough today within the framework of the EurAsEC and the Customs Union,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.

According to him, the EurAsEC innovative fund can bring together researchers and scientists. “Vladimir Putin and I have already discussed this issue in order to have the initial capital to finance exploration works which will grow into purely scientific as well as scientific and technical programs,” Mikhail Myasnikovich concluded.

In turn, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Zhores Alferov noted that Belarus and Russia are discussing a possibility of setting up a joint venture for light-emitting diodes and related equipment.

Zhores Alferov noted that Russia’s Optogan Company is interested in the joint company. This company’s specialists have good marketing experience and are ready to use Belarusian scientific potential. “It is essential to work on this project thoroughly to make the joint venture successful,” the scientist said.

Both Belarusian and Russian specialists are ready to take part in the formation of the joint venture. “Our objective is to discuss the mechanism of its creation. We should take into account everything to get mutual benefits from this project,” he added.

Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich confirmed that Belarus is ready to partake in the project. Moreover, Mikhail Myasnikovich reminded that Belarusian and Russian scientists will continue to cooperate in the area of LED equipment and microelectronics within the framework of new joint programs. According to him, scientific institutions of both countries should not compete with each other but work together.