Mikheil Chkhenkeli: "Funding for grant competitions will be increased in engineering, science and technology, as well as in the humanities and Kartvelology"

Mikheil Chkhenkeli, a candidate for the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, addressed the joint committees of the Parliament and spoke about the projects that have been implemented in science despite the pandemic.

According to Mikheil Chkhenkeli, for the first time this year, the Georgian Scientific Academia joined the Night of European Researchers with its victorious project - "Science is Captain". About 100 cities from 30 European countries took part in the event. The main events were held online in six university cities of Georgia. A total of eight universities have been refurbished to European spaces, which should fulfil the mission of Horizon Europe Grant Offices in 2021.

Additionally, Mikheil Chkhenkeli highlighted the EUR 1.5 million project - "Researcher Mobility Program" developed within the framework of the European Commission's research and innovation program "Horizon-2020", which provides funding for the mobility of 60 Georgian researchers.

Furthermore, according to Mikheil Chkhenkeli, preparations are in-progress for a new EU program "Horizon Europe", which will pave the way for Georgia to integrate into the European scientific space, including gaining full membership in the European Association - "COST".  The minister also stated, that in terms of internationalization, it is vitally important to expand the cooperation with CERN - International Particle Physics Information Group.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli also spoke about the further development of science and noted that funding for grant competitions will be increased for fundamental research in engineering, natural sciences and technology, as well as in the humanities and Kartvelology, and in 2021 the grant competition will be announced with an updated concept and scale. The ministry will do its best to facilitate the cooperation of Georgian and foreign academic and scientific members, which will further support the integration of Georgian scientists on the international arena, and the commercialization component of applied scientific research will be strengthened.