The innovative development path is a key condition for Belarus's economic security – expert

December 7, Vitebsk / Sergey Kotovets - BELTA /. The transition to an innovative development path is a key condition for ensuring Belarus's economic security. This opinion was expressed in a conversation with a BELTA correspondent by Natalia Berchenko, Director of the Communal Scientific and Consulting Unitary Enterprise (KNCUP) "Vitebsk Center for Regional Studies and Development". Today, sustainable socio-economic development of the country and improvement of citizens' quality of life are possible based on the creation of an innovative, high-tech economy competitive on the world market. Speaking at the IV All-Belarusian People's Assembly, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko specifically noted that the new economic policy of the state will be aimed at creating fundamentally new industries and enterprises that produce high value-added products. The task set by the head of state to ensure a share of innovative and highly profitable products at a level of at least 20% in the total production volume requires a comprehensive approach, noted Natalia Berchenko. "In the programmed five-year period, it is necessary to create a mechanism that ensures the development and intensive implementation of innovations, and here the role of coordinated interaction between government bodies, subjects of innovation, research organizations, as well as the real sector of the economy and financial structures is great," believes the head of the consulting enterprise. The program for innovative development for 2011-2015, being developed in the Vitebsk region, is aimed at creating such a mechanism. The implementation of the program will increase the innovative activity and receptiveness to innovations of the region's enterprises. A special emphasis in the coming five-year period is planned to be placed on the accelerated development of innovative infrastructure and the improvement of the system for managing the innovative development of the region. The potential of research organizations will be concentrated on solving the most significant problems with maximum commercialization of the results of scientific and technical activities. In addition, the transition to an innovative economy requires the formation of a personnel training system, as well as the implementation of effective financing schemes for innovation. The Vitebsk Center for Regional Studies and Development was established in 2004 on the basis of the Vitebsk Department of the Research Institute of Economics of the Ministry of Economy. The main activities of the center include conducting diverse research in the field of regional economics and sociology, developing forecasts, programs, and strategic development plans for administrative-territorial units. Since 2006, the center has been the basic consulting organization for the Vitebsk region, providing services in the field of business planning. -0-