Development of science on Georgia’s long-term agenda
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Georgian scientists are set to receive more funding from Horizon 2020 – the European Union's (EU) framework program for research and innovation.
Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is hosting the international conference, dedicated to Horizon 2020's Maria Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), which supports researchers at all stages of their careers, irrespective of nationality, to encourage transnational, intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility.
The programme responds to the challenges sometimes faced by researchers, offering them attractive working conditions and the opportunity to move between academic and other settings.
With a budget of €77 billion for 2014-2020, Horizon 2020 is the largest multinational programme dedicated to research and innovation. Last year Georgia signed an association agreement with Horizon 2020 among its EU member states, which covers the years 2016-2020 and will open up new opportunities for the country's universities, research institutions and enterprises.
Opening the conference today Georgia’s Minister of Education and Science Aleksandre Jejelava said Georgian scientists have worked so well in the past year that the annual three million euro membership fee that Georgia paid has been returned to Georgia in scientific grants and will assist further promotion of science.
Mariam Jashi, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Education, Science and Culture Committee, believes Horizon 2020 will be one the most important platforms in Georgia for strengthening science in the country.
Researchers and innovators from Georgia will now be able to participate in the EU's framework program for research and innovation under the same conditions as their counterparts from EU member states and other associated countries.
Minister of Science and Education Aleksandre Jejelava has been appointed Third Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia. Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili announced his appointment at the governmental meeting this morning.
Georgia’s Minister of Education and Vice-Prime Minister Aleksandre Jejelava announced today that the Government of Georgia will cover all camp expenses for 11,000 pupils from small schools around Georgia.
The project titled ‘CAPTAIN: science is the captain’ presented by the Georgian Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports has won the EU's research and innovation contest - European Researcher’s Night (The European Union’s framework program for research and innovation).
For the first time Georgia has joined 29 European countries in celebrating European Researchers' Night – a Europe-wide public event promoting science and innovation. The event showcases the diversity of science and its impact on citizens’ daily lives, stimulating interest in research careers - particularly among young people, the EU Delegation to Georgia said.
Georgia’s full membership in the European Cooperation in Science and Technology organisation shows the country’s scientific field is an integral part of the European research space, Education Minister Mikheil Chkhenkeli said on Tuesday.