# Department of Physical and Technical Sciences

> division of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

**Wikidata**: [Q17560657](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17560657)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/department-of-physical-and-technical-sciences

## Summary
The Department of Physical and Technical Sciences is a research division of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, dedicated exclusively to scientific investigation across physical and technical disciplines.

## Key Facts
- Division of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
- ROR ID: 01y1re497
- Grid ID: grid.510314.2
- NL CR AUT ID: kn20121213012
- Located in Belarus
- Parent organization: National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
- Instance of: research institute
- Wikipedia language coverage: 1 language (Belarusian)
- Wikidata description: division of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Department's relationship to the National Academy of Sciences?
A: The Department of Physical and Technical Sciences operates as a specialized research division within the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, focusing exclusively on scientific investigation.

### Q: What is the primary function of this department?
A: The department's sole purpose is to conduct systematic research across physical and technical scientific disciplines, without the teaching or policy-oriented functions found in other organizations.

### Q: How is it classified as an organization?
A: It is formally classified as a research institute, distinguished from universities, think tanks, and scientific societies through its exclusive focus on fundamental scientific inquiry.

## Why It Matters
Research divisions like the Department of Physical and Technical Sciences serve as dedicated engines of discovery, free from the teaching obligations that divide university researchers' attention. By concentrating resources and talent purely on investigation, these organizations accelerate breakthroughs in fields from physics to engineering. They provide spaces where scientists can pursue long-term, high-risk research that might not fit within university or corporate timelines. Many significant scientific advances - from technological innovations to fundamental scientific discoveries - emerge from research institutes specifically designed to tackle complex problems without distraction. In an era where innovation drives economic competitiveness and addresses global challenges like climate change and technological advancement, this department represents critical infrastructure for advancing human knowledge and solving society's most pressing problems.

## Notable For
- Dedicated exclusively to research activities, unlike hybrid organizations that combine teaching or commercial functions
- Operates as a standalone research entity rather than a sub-unit within a larger organization
- Classified with unique identifiers across multiple library and knowledge systems
- Recognized in the Belarusian Wikipedia (be language edition)
- Part of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the highest scientific authority in Belarus

## Body
### Classification and Identification
The Department of Physical and Technical Sciences is formally classified under multiple knowledge organization systems. The Library of Congress uses the authority ID sh85113043, while the German National Library assigns GND ID 4017909-6. Geographic databases recognize research institutes through the Geonames feature code S.ITTR. In library science, it falls under Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406.

### Distinctions from Related Entities
Research institutes are specifically differentiated from several similar organizations. Unlike scientific societies or learned societies which are membership-based organizations, research institutes are operational entities conducting hands-on investigation. They differ from think tanks in their broader disciplinary scope - while think tanks focus on policy research, research institutes pursue fundamental inquiry across all fields. They're also distinct from research centers, which may be sub-units within larger organizations rather than standalone entities.

### Global Recognition
The concept achieves broad international recognition, with Wikipedia articles in 41 languages including Arabic, Bengali, Catalan, Czech, German, Spanish, and others. This extensive linguistic coverage indicates the universal applicability and recognition of the research institute as an organizational form across diverse cultural and national contexts.

### Parent Organization Relationship
The Department of Physical and Technical Sciences operates as a specialized division within the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. This parent-child relationship establishes the department as part of the highest scientific authority in the country, with the Academy serving as the overarching scientific institution while the department focuses specifically on physical and technical scientific research.

### Research Focus and Scope
The department's research activities cover a comprehensive range of physical and technical scientific disciplines. This includes fundamental research in physics, mathematics, engineering, and related technical fields. The research is conducted through systematic investigation methodologies, focusing on generating new knowledge through rigorous scientific inquiry.

### Organizational Structure
As a research institute, the department maintains a structure optimized for research activities rather than educational or commercial functions. This includes specialized research teams, laboratory facilities, and resources dedicated exclusively to scientific investigation. The organizational model allows for long-term research projects that may not be feasible within university or corporate settings.

### Knowledge Generation and Dissemination
The department contributes to scientific knowledge through publications, research reports, and academic contributions. Its research findings are disseminated through scientific journals, conferences, and other academic channels, contributing to the advancement of scientific understanding in Belarus and internationally.

## References

1. GRID Release 2021-03-25
2. ROR Data Dump 8.0 (April 2021)