Scientists' salaries increased from 150-200 GEL to 700-800 GEL
According to Tamar Sanikidze, for years, the meager funding of the scientific sector and the minimal remuneration of scientists constituted a serious problem in the country. After so many years, solving this problem will significantly increase the popularization of science, the quantity and quality of scientific research, and, most importantly, will contribute to attracting young scientists to this field.
The Minister stated that many important steps have been taken to develop and popularize science in Georgia, among which is the increased remuneration of labor for scientists. From January 1, 2015, scientists' salaries increased 2.5-fold. Alongside the implemented projects, subsequent stages have also been defined.
First of all, it is worth noting that with the assistance of Georgian scientists operating abroad and the Scientific Council existing under the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, long-term (averaging 10 years) action plans of scientific-research institutions integrated into higher educational institutions were evaluated.
For the first time in Georgia, when evaluating the future activities of scientific-research institutions, the relevance of the research presented within the framework of the program, scientific publications, citation index, patents, projects, grants, international scientific cooperation, and other criteria were taken into account. As a result:
- Scientifically substantiated long-term scientific programs were defined;
- The salary policy for persons employed in scientific positions was regulated;
- Scientists' salaries increased by an average of 250%, which will help elevate the prestige of scientists and, accordingly, attract/engage young scientists in scientific activities;
- An adequate system for evaluating scientific activities was planned, the absence of which significantly hindered the development of the system.
Along with other science-supporting programs implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science, the implementation of long-term scientific programs and the increase in science funding within the framework of the program constitute an essential step necessary for the further development of science in Georgia.
With the aim of developing science in Georgia, purposefully utilizing the intellectual potential existing in higher educational institutions, creating conditions for scientific research, training young scientific personnel, and promoting the integration of learning, teaching, and scientific research, the following are planned for the future:
- Implementing amendments to the laws of Georgia "On Science, Technologies, and Their Development" and "On Higher Education" in order to define the status, rights, and duties of science in higher educational institutions;
- Conducting evaluations in scientific-research institutes integrated within higher educational institutions and electing scientific staff to scientific positions through open competitions;
- Evaluating the capabilities of each scientific-research institute in terms of economic innovative development, as well as promoting the development of higher education (working with doctoral and master's students);
- Determining priority directions for scientific research and innovations, and strengthening and developing the infrastructure of corresponding research institutes.
