Science Academies in Central and Eastern Europe and their Role in Knowledge-based Society

This regional workshop, organized by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) and supported by IAP and the Central European Initiative (CEI) is aimed at strengthening the capacity-building potential of Science Academies in the Region. The two-day activity will include sessions on the following:

• Academy and Knowledge-based Society
• Academy and Excellency
• Academy and Youth
• Academy and Regional Challenges
• Academy and Policy Advice

 
Background
Today the world has reached a new stage or, as a philosopher would put it, a new paradigm: from economic growth to economic and social development when scientific and innovation activity becomes not “one of” but The major system-building factor of community development.
In such conditions the role of the science academies has changed drastically over recent years. Many of the Academies of the region are not only distinguished learned societies, but centres of innovative production generating cutting-edge technologies. The processes of interaction of science with policy-makers and business milieu has changed and the voice of science is to be heard at the national and European level.
One of the mainstream objectives of the 7th Framework Programme is bridging the gap between research and innovation through European collaboration. Creation of an integrated research area, participation in scientific and research programmes on a regional scale will not only bring direct results with the realization of joint programmes and projects but also will help form the awareness that economic development is co-dependent with scientific and innovation development. The role and place of Science Academies in these processes will be discussed during the workshop.

Participation
Participants in the event will be representatives of Science Academies from EU member-states, EU neighbouring countries, Eastern Partnership Initiative countries, thus creating a variety of views and approaches to the common challenges the Academies of the region are facing nowadays. The Workshop will provide opportunities for participants to share experiences and examples of good practices of collaboration of scientists with policy-makers, the industrial sector, and youth and society.

Output and Results
The output of the activity was a firm commitment and a road-map among the academies participating to become more involved with decision-makers in their countries on policy issues as well as the formation of information-sharing network of academies. Participants had the opportunity to hold discussions with Prime Minister of Belarus and a conversation about current trends in the development of science and its role in society took place.

The Workshop report and recommendations for follow-up activity is available below.

Follow the link to view the Workshop photographs.

Follow the link to Scilogs - in association with Nature Blog entitled "East and Central European science academies agree to boost collaboration, relevance to society ... "