The Minister Continues Meetings with Scientists

Over the past two years, with the financial support of the Ministry, large-scale infrastructural projects and renewal processes of the material and technical base—such as have not been carried out in the last 30 years—are underway at the Petre Melikishvili Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry, the Rafael Agladze Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Electrochemistry, and the Alexander Tvalchrelidze Institute of Mineral Resources of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. In addition, the threefold increase in the budget has enabled the chemistry institutes, just like other research institutions, to carry out infrastructure and scientific-technical base renewal works using their own funding as well.

To promote the development of science and scientific research, the government has increased the budget by 82%, raised scientists' salaries by an average of 2.5 times, and allocated nearly 25 million GEL for the equipping and rehabilitation of research institutions. Furthermore, based on the amendments introduced in December 2015 to the Law of Georgia "on Science, Technologies and their Development," many of the current problems in the field of science will be resolved and the foundation for fundamental changes will be laid. The principal innovations will include: strengthening the research component in the educational process; defining the status, functions, and rights and duties of research units in universities; the full participation of research units in the educational, scientific activities and governance of universities; and the creation of a legislative framework that will enable the attraction and employment of young professionals and the assignment of scientific statuses to them (postdoctoral researcher, scientist).