During the March 28 meeting, attended by over 80 representatives of scientific circles, NGOs, state authorities and journalists, the Concept of developing the National Academy of Sciences in the context of amendments to the legislation of Ukraine in scientific and technical sphere was discussed.
Participants of the meeting claimed the Committee is working on amendments to the Law “On scientific and scientific-technical activities”, in the context of which the issue on reforming the National Academy of Sciences is very important.
It was stated that on December 25, 2013 the Resolution of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Presidium adopted the Concept of developing the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Now the Academy is elaborating measures of its implementation.
Academicians of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Naumovets A.H. and Zahorodnii A.H. informed about main provisions of the Concept of developing the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
It was stressed that the Concept of developing the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine for 2014-2023 was elaborated according to the decision of the session of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine General Meeting dd. April 18, 2013.
Implementation of the concept shall promote national science as an important part of the country’s modernization, increase contribution of the National Academy of Sciences to insurance of efficient economic and social development of Ukraine, its defense capacity and national security by:
increasing level of fundamental and applied research, strengthening their interdisciplinary nature;
activating research aimed at increasing knowledge content and competition capacity of national production;
increasing efficiency and transparency of using budget funds that are aimed at funding scientific and scientific-technical activity, strengthening competitive principles of funding research;
developing infrastructure of research, improving its material and technical, and informational provision;
strengthening workforce capacity, helping leading scientific schools, involving talented youth in academic institutions;
developing educational activity;
further integration into international scientific community.
Participants of the round table discussion focused on the issues of state and public administration of science and technology; on increasing responsibility for quality and use of scientific results; on the status of scientist and researcher; as well as on attaching special attention to training of new staff, etc.
Attention was attached also to the issue of inner organization and life of scientific environment of the Academy. Participants of the discussion believe that there should be established efficient conditions for its self-organization, self-preservation and maximum direction towards a final result.
Participants of the round table discussion provided examples of science organization in the USA and several countries of the European Union.
Ideas were expressed providing critical assessment of the Concept.
Participants of the event reaffirmed their stand that country’s restoration and economic growth, especially in the situation of crisis, can be secured only under the condition of priority support to science and education branches of Ukraine. Thus, it is primarily the state that should change its attitude to science and secure favorable conditions for the activity of scientific and technical spheres in Ukraine.
At the end of the round table discussion, Committee Chair Liliia Hrynevych stressed that results of the public hearings will be considered in the course of preparation of a new version of the law “On Scientific and Scientific and Technical Activity”. Chairperson of the Committee informed that the Verkhovna Rada took the decision to hold parliamentary hearings entitled “On the state and legislative support to Ukrainian scientific and scientific-technical spheres” on July 2, 2014.