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A conference on the theme "The Industrial Sector as the Foundation for Strategic Development and Technological Sovereignty of the Country. The "Leaders of Industry of the Republic of Belarus" Competition as a Platform for Identifying and Promoting Innovations" was held at the BELTA press center.
The start of the III Republican Competition for the "Leaders of Industry of the Republic of Belarus - 2025" award for achievements in industrial technologies and management was announced.
New opportunities that the competition opens for further promotion of advanced experience of domestic industrial enterprises, growth points, and prospects for the development of Belarus's industrial potential – these and other pressing issues were discussed by the participants within the framework of the conference.
The "Leaders of Industry" Competition: First Results and Innovations
Tatyana Sakhnovich, Deputy Chairperson of the competition's expert council and Head of the Department of Engineering Economics at the Mechanical Engineering Faculty of the Belarusian National Technical University, spoke about the results of the competition project and the opportunities it provides to participants.
She recalled that the "Leaders of Industry" competition has been held since 2023, and its popularity has significantly increased over the first two years. While 29 enterprises participated in the competitive selection in 2023, the number of participants grew to 52 a year later, with 62 awards received.
- Experts not only evaluated the materials submitted for the competition but also personally visited many enterprises. It was very valuable to see firsthand how the projects we evaluate within the competition were implemented and to ask questions to the developers.
Tatyana Sakhnovich explained that the competition nominations are divided into categories: "Enterprise of the Year," "Project of the Year," "Product of the Year," and "Equipment of the Year." This year, winners will be determined in various industries: mechanical engineering, energy, light industry, electronics, chemical, food, processing industries, etc.
Representatives of domestic science will be more actively involved in assessing the potential of competition participants to identify innovations in various industrial sectors. For the first time, based on the competition results, in addition to traditional evaluations and decisions on awarding winners, experts will compile a rating of innovations that have received approval within the competition.
- The technological basis underlying the competition entries is very important, she emphasized.
In 2025, the pool of experts will be expanded with more active involvement of specialized experts from various industries. The fields of chemistry, light industry, industrial design, marketing, foreign economic activity, etc., will be strengthened.
Among this year's innovations is the introduction of an expert consultation system during the application preparation process, which will help to more accurately determine eligibility for participation in the competition. In addition, specialized experts will be assigned to each application if the general pool does not include experts with the required specialization.
- Conducting professional competitions helps to synchronize efforts, set industry trends, and popularize the work and achievements of leaders in various sectors, she summarized.
The competition has opened its doors to all interested participants, with 14 applications already submitted.
Among the first registered contestants are: OJSC "Vitebsk Carpets", OJSC "KrasnoselskstroyMaterials", LLC "MVT", UP "Vitebskoblgaz", OJSC "Mogilev Meat Processing Plant", OJSC "Management Company of Holding "Belorusskie Oboi" Branch "Dobrush Paper Mill "Geroy Truda", OJSC "Belsolod", "Polimir" Plant OJSC "Naftan", OJSC "Grodno Mechanical Plant".
Until April 14, all other companies can submit their applications for participation. The competition results will be announced at the end of May.
On May 20, the Second Business Conference "Industrial Complex of the Republic of Belarus: Innovations, Import Independence, Effective Management" will be held in Minsk, and on May 21, the award ceremony for the competition winners will take place.