Education

Scientific and innovative potential

Educational Institution "Vitebsk State Technological University" conducts research in the following areas:

  • digital information and communication and interdisciplinary technologies, and production based on them;
  • textile materials with specified properties;
  • energy efficiency, energy saving;
  • composite and multifunctional materials;
  • nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, nanodiagnostics;
  • socio-humanitarian, economic and information security, emergency protection.

The university is the country's only unique center of competence in the field of light and textile industry technologies – in the field of yarn development, fabrics for various purposes, in the field of design, construction and technologies for the production of clothing and footwear, in the field of waste processing and technologies for the production of various products based on them, including import-substituting ones.

The development of the university's innovative activities is carried out based on the "University 3.0" model through the organization of effective work and the development of an existing subject of the innovation infrastructure – the RUP "Scientific and Technological Park of Vitebsk State Technological University", and structural units of the university created to develop entrepreneurial skills and innovative activities of students and staff: joint educational and research laboratories and educational, scientific and production centers with enterprises.

The university provides advanced higher education in 9 master's specialties, as well as research-oriented education in 9 postgraduate specialties and
2 doctoral specialties. 2 scientific journals are published.

The educational institution "Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov" is a major scientific center with high scientific and technical potential, has a modern research base, the latest experimental equipment, allowing for complex research in various fields, high-quality implementation of scientific projects and practically significant developments. It has the status of a scientific organization. In 2020, it was included in the Republican Board of Honor as the winner of the competition among scientific organizations.

More than 20 modern scientific, research, innovative, and scientific and educational laboratories and centers actively function at the university. Within the framework of 15 scientific schools, advanced training of personnel, and professional development for the innovative development of the country are organized, and the implementation of all types of scientific projects is carried out.

The research and innovation potential of the university is determined by multi- and interdisciplinary areas related to the development and implementation of priorities for the real sector:

  • technologies in the field of biochemistry, ecology and nature management;
  • information technologies in various sectors of the economy;
  • educational technologies and subject-specific methodologies.

By order of enterprises and organizations, the university conducts research in the field of mathematical modeling and information technologies, natural resources and environmental protection activities, environmental monitoring and GIS technologies, development of information infrastructure, and socio-humanitarian support for the real sector of the economy.

The university is the founder of scientific publications recommended by the Higher Attestation Commission of the Republic of Belarus for publishing the results of dissertation research: the journal "Vestnik Vitebskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta", the collection of scientific works "Uchenye Zapiski
VGU named after P.M. Masherov", and the scientific and practical journals "Art and Culture", "Law. Economics. Psychology". The scientific journal "Sovremennoe Obrazovanie Vitebshchiny" is published.

As a classical university, it offers training
under 25 master's degree programs, which form the necessary competencies for scientific-pedagogical, research, and innovative activities. Education is conducted in Russian and English.

At VSU postgraduate programs, 20 scientific specialties are available in 9 branches of science: physical and mathematical, technical, biological, historical, philosophical, philological, pedagogical, psychological, and art history; doctoral programs offer training in 2 specialties. Six specialties of science-oriented education are among the priority specialties for highly qualified researchers, which are necessary for the development of high-tech industries related to the V and VI technological structures of the economy. The council for the defense of candidate dissertations in pedagogical sciences operates successfully.

Research areas at the Educational Institution "Vitebsk State Order of Peoples' Friendship Medical University" align with the profile of specialists training in medicine and pharmacy, based on the priority areas of scientific and technical development in the Republic of Belarus: surgical diseases and trauma; pharmacology, pharmacy, and biotechnology; infection and biological safety; cardiovascular diseases; healthy mother – healthy child; internal diseases; medical rehabilitation; innovative pedagogy. The university possesses a modern research base equipped with unique scientific equipment: a research laboratory; a center for molecular genetic and biotechnological research; a vivarium (experimental biological clinic); a chemical and pharmaceutical laboratory; a student research laboratory; and laboratories for professional skills. The university actively participates in competitions for funding within state programs of scientific research, state and industry-specific scientific and technical programs, and fundamental research fund programs.

The university hosts scientific and practical centers that facilitate the integration of research outcomes and scientific achievements into educational programs and practical healthcare: Surgery of liver and pancreatic diseases; Infection in surgery; Gastroenterological Center; Hemostasiology in cardiology; Coloproctology Center; Ophthalmology. The VSMU Clinic and the University Dental Polyclinic are operational. A Center for the Transfer of Medical and Pharmaceutical Technologies has been established with the aim of transferring innovations from their development sphere to practical application. A Technology and Innovation Support Center operates on the university's premises.

Graduates can pursue further education in clinical residency, master's programs (in 4 specialties), postgraduate programs (in 40 specialties), and subsequently in doctoral programs (in 22 specialties). Students who have completed master's or postgraduate programs have the opportunity to engage in teaching and research activities in higher education institutions.

The university publishes 4 scientific and practical journals: "Vestnik VGMU", "Novosti Khirurgii" (Surgery News), "Vestnik Farmatsii" (Pharmacy Bulletin), "Okhrana Materinstva i Detstva" (Maternity and Child Protection).

The educational institution "Vitebsk Order of the Badge of Honor State Academy of Veterinary Medicine" is accredited as a scientific organization by the State Committee on Science and Technology of the Republic of Belarus and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (Certificate No. 136 dated June 8, 2022).

The main scientific research areas of the academy are:

  • innovative technologies in veterinary medicine and agricultural production;
  • biotechnology;
  • ecology and rational nature management;
  • agro-industrial and food technologies;
  • socio-humanitarian development of culture and education of the Republic of Belarus.

The academy has highly qualified personnel, which allows for training personnel for the agro-industrial complex, conducting scientific research on the development of pharmacological and biological preparations, and feed additives for enterprises of the Republic of Belarus, near and far abroad, and providing assistance to agricultural enterprises and organizations. The academy has a research institute of applied veterinary medicine and biotechnology (RIVMB) and an industry laboratory "Veterinary Biotechnology and Infectious Animal Diseases", which concentrate high-tech equipment, allowing for high-level performance.

The academy also has a master's program in the specialties "Veterinary Medicine" and "Zootechny", postgraduate studies in 12 specialties, and doctoral studies in 8 specialties.

The educational institution "Polotsk State University named after Euphrosyne of Polotsk" is an intellectual and cultural center, a driver of scientific development. It is a whole ecosystem that combines education, science, industry, and intellectual resources.

The university is a scientific and educational complex with a developed infrastructure for innovative research and training of highly qualified personnel.

Global scientific research is conducted in the fields of plasma emission electronics, mobile development of machine-building production, automated design of modular technological equipment and intensification of mechanical and physico-technical processing of materials, assessment of the technical condition and strengthening of building structures of buildings and structures, safety of pipeline transport, theory and practice of information protection, technical operation and renovation of machines, local regeneration of the atmosphere, historical and contextual methods of studying world literature.

The university has a wide range of research laboratories and is part of the innovative industrial Novopolotsk petrochemical cluster. The university has a register of licenses and certificates for the research and scientific-technical services performed. In the period 2018-2022, 23 intellectual property objects were created in the fields of technical information protection, mechanical engineering, construction, and human life safety. 21 patents for inventions were obtained in Belarus, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, China, Canada, the Netherlands, Russia, the USA, France, Japan.

Commercialization of developments is implemented in the republican innovative unitary enterprise "Scientific and Technological Park of Polotsk State University" established by the university.

The university offers postgraduate studies in 26 specialties and doctoral studies in 20 specialties, including priority ones for the implementation of high-tech industries,
in the fields of mathematics, physics, mechanical engineering, computer science, materials science, chemical technology, transport, construction, geodesy, labor protection, economics, and literary studies.

An important feature of the Vitebsk region is its developed research potential, which generally meets the needs of the region's socio-economic complex and is focused on applied research in the field of production of new types of building materials, energy and resource saving, reduction of import intensity in the production sector, increasing the competitiveness of textile and footwear products, improving the processes of production and processing of agricultural products, modernization of the largest petrochemical complex of the republic, and ensuring environmental safety.

I. University Science

A significant volume of fundamental and applied research is carried out by higher education institutions. There are 6 higher education institutions in the Vitebsk region, including 1 branch of the educational institution of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus "MITSO". Higher education institutions in the region conduct active research activities and have the necessary material and technical base in accordance with the requirements of state standards for specialties. Postgraduate education in the Vitebsk region is carried out on the basis of 5 universities, of which 3, in addition to master's and postgraduate programs, have doctoral programs: UO "VSMU", UO "VSAVM", UO "VSTU".

Educational Institution "Polotsk State University" conducts research in a number of scientific fields: construction, public utilities, chemistry and petrochemistry, mechanical engineering, informatization, etc. The university has highly qualified scientific and engineering personnel, a wide range of machine tool and testing equipment, which allows for theoretical and experimental research aimed at creating equipment and technologies for manufacturing composites, applying protective, wear-resistant coatings, studying their structural and operational properties, studying the stress-strain state of complex technical objects, and developing methods and means to increase their durability under various loading conditions. University scientists have created and patented over 900 inventions, utility models, and industrial designs. University developments are patented in Belarus, Russia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, the USA, Canada, Japan, and China.

The work of the Educational Institution "Vitebsk State Technological University" is aimed at light industry and machine-building enterprises and includes the development of new equipment and materials, and new technological processes. The developments have been implemented at light industry enterprises, the "Vityaz" Production Association, OJSC "Orsha", RUP "VZEP", "Thermoplast" plant, OJSC "Vitebsk Motor Repair Plant", OJSC "Visas Plant", RUPP "Stankostroitelny Zavod "Krasny Borets"", RUPP "Vistan". An Experimental Center, accredited for independence and technical competence according to ISO/IEC 17025, has been established at the Educational Institution "Vitebsk State Technological University". Currently, the center certifies products according to 74 indicators. The center's accreditation scope includes almost all indicators necessary for the certification and safety assessment of textile, garment, and leather-footwear products, as well as the certification of dry-cleaning and laundry services. The university possesses unique expensive equipment that has no analogues in the Republic of Belarus, including: a multifunctional device USTER TESTER 5-S400/SA/0S/FM, a thermal imager TH9100-WL, and a differential scanning calorimeter. This equipment was acquired in 2005–2007 by decision of the State Committee on Science and Technology of the Republic of Belarus.

Educational Institution "Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov" implements a broad program of scientific research aimed at increasing production efficiency in various sectors of the economy, ensuring sustainable environmental management, improving the quality of the environment, contributing to progress in the spiritual development of society, and the successful development of education and culture. The educational institution has established active patent and licensing activities.

Scientists of the Educational Institution "Vitebsk State Order of Peoples' Friendship Medical University" are developing new methods for diagnosing, treating, rehabilitating, and preventing diseases, as well as new drug forms. Scientific research at the university is conducted in 10 main areas:

  • military and extreme medicine; surgical diseases;
  • medicinal products;
  • infection;
  • prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases;
  • trauma;
  • oncology;
  • healthy mother – healthy child;
  • prevention of psychoactive substance addiction;
  • internal diseases;
  • organization, management, and economics of healthcare.

The work in this area is accumulated by the central research laboratory, established in 1963, which serves as an organizational and methodological center for conducting research and training scientific and pedagogical staff. The laboratory conducts research on topics assigned by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus and the State Committee on Science and Technology. The laboratory is accredited in accordance with the requirements of the STB ISO/IEC 17025-2001 standard. The scope of accreditation includes immunological, histological and histochemical, chemical, biochemical, toxicological, radioimmunoassay and immunoradiometric, and hematological research methods.

A research support structural unit of the university is the vivarium for housing laboratory animals, the availability of which allows for the optimization of practical research processes.

The departments and laboratories of the Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine are working on problems such as improving the breed composition of livestock, reducing costs in feed production, and preventing diseases in young animals caused by immune deficiency. Most research is carried out according to the assignments of the State Programs of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Over the past three years, the academy's scientists have created about 140 veterinary drugs, developed more than 150 recommendations and instructions, and obtained over 30 patents. Scientific cooperation is carried out with universities and research institutes of the Republic of Belarus, as well as with many scientific and pedagogical teams in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, the Baltic states, Poland, Germany, etc.

The Research Institute of Applied Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology, operating at the academy, makes a significant contribution to solving the problems of agricultural production by providing practical assistance to farms. A central research laboratory has been established at the institute, which is accredited for independence and technical competence according to ISO 17025.

The RUE "VGTU Science and Technology Park" (11 research areas) and the RUE "PSU Science and Technology Park" (3 residents) are also actively engaged in scientific research.

II. Scientific Research of Organizations.

Significant potential is concentrated in scientific, research and production organizations and institutions. 6 commercial and 3 non-profit organizations are engaged in scientific research and development in the region. The Regional Center for Socio-Economic Research of the State Scientific Institution "Scientific Research Economic Institute of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus" conducts research and analysis in the field of regional studies.

The **Institute of Technical Acoustics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus** holds leading positions in the region in the development of materials and technologies for their processing with concentrated energy flows (ultrasound, laser radiation, high-frequency electromagnetic fields, ion-plasma flows, high-temperature synthesis). The organization has developments in ceramic and composite materials, and information technologies for both mechanical engineering and other industries. Developments carried out by the organization under the assignments of the State Scientific and Technical Programs (GNTP) and Regional Scientific and Technical Programs (RNTP) have been implemented at NTC "Medin", OJSC "Vityaz", RUE "VZEP", OJSC "Rudensk", OJSC "Vitebsk Engine Repair Plant", OJSC "VIZAS". The largest organizations also include:

  • **RSE "Institute of Flax".** Areas of activity: selection of new varieties of flax-dolgunets and oil flax, primary seed production of zoned flax varieties; development of environmentally safe, resource-saving technologies for cultivation and harvesting of flax; development of agrotechnical methods for increasing the yield and quality of flax products, reducing the cost of flax product production; improvement of methods for managing processes occurring during the retting of flax straw, determination of physical and mechanical quality indicators of flax fiber.
  • **ODO "Resan Scientific Research Collective Enterprise".** Areas of activity: development and production of complex test systems for clinical research. Research is carried out in the promising field of medicine – immunology and the human genome.
  • JSC "Display Design Bureau". Conducts research in the field of electronics: development and production of LCD displays for aviation multifunctional indicators, development and production of panel and portable computers, etc. More than 60 types of its products are included in the "List of serially produced and promising basic computing tools developed within the framework of the State Program "Integration-SVT-2015" and "Military Microelectronics".

In addition, numerous organizations with their own design and/or engineering departments, regardless of ownership and scale, make a significant contribution to the formation of the scientific and innovative potential of the Vitebsk region: NTF "Belama Plus" LLC (Orsha) (development and production of agricultural machinery and attachments), NPP "Binar" (Vitebsk) (development and production of industrial automation equipment), JSC "Vitebsk Plant of Electrical Measuring Instruments" (Vitebsk) (development and modernization of devices for the onboard electrical systems of cars and tractors, AC switchboard electrical measuring instruments, special-purpose devices), JSC "VZR D "Monolit" (Vitebsk) (patent development of new product designs (radio components)), RUP "Vitebsk Zonal Institute of Agriculture of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus" (Vitebsk district) (seed production, adaptive, resource-saving, environmentally safe technologies for crop cultivation), SLES "Dvinsk Experimental Forest Base of the Institute of Forest of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus" (Gluboksky district) (comprehensive research in the field of forest restoration and plantation forestry on a selective-genetic basis).

Thus, the field of scientific research and development in the Vitebsk region is widely represented, covering various areas. The activity carried out is aimed both at the development of theoretical knowledge and skills, and at their practical implementation within the industrial organizations of the region and the republic, as well as service organizations.