On December 9, 2020, the International Association of Academies of Sciences and the Standing Committee of the Union State signed a cooperation agreement.
The document was signed by the Head of the IAAS, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Vladimir Gusakov, and the State Secretary of the Union State, Grigory Rapota.
As noted by Vladimir Gusakov, Chairman of the Presidium of the NAS of Belarus, “The conclusion of a cooperation agreement between the IAAS and the Standing Committee of the Union State is an important event. The Association unites organizations from 16 countries, including CIS member states, Vietnam, China, and Montenegro. By engaging the scientific potential of such a vast area, it becomes possible to address a wide range of issues relevant to the Union State. The IAAS includes 24 scientific councils dealing with nanotechnology, chemistry and biology, publishing, medicine, including COVID-19, as well as youth, regional, and other issues.”
In turn, Grigory Rapota emphasized that the Union State places strong emphasis on scientific and technological progress as a driver of economic development. “The issue of forming a unified scientific and technological space is receiving increasing attention within the Union State. We would like to learn how these tasks are addressed in other countries and to make use of the experience of this organization,” he noted.

In accordance with the agreement, the IAAS and the Standing Committee of the Union State will exchange information, hold joint meetings and consultations, organize practical and thematic events in the scientific and technological sphere, and coordinate their joint activities.