Chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, a consultative meeting was held in the Office of Government to discuss the prospects for developing science in Armenia.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Tigran Avinyan and Mher Grigoryan, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Prime Minister Arsen Torosyan, Minister of Finance Atom Janjughazyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Vahram Dumanyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry Hakob Arshakyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sports Affairs Mkhitar Hairapetyan, Deputy Chairman of the same commission Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, President of the National Academy of Sciences Radik Martirosyan, Chairman of the State Science Committee Sargis Hayotsyan, other dignitaries.

Prior to discussing the meeting agenda, the Prime Minister noted: “As you may know, the Law on Higher Education and Science was passed by the National Assembly in the first reading. And in this context, it is appropriate to discuss the mechanism for financing science in the Republic of Armenia. I wish to emphasize that this is an occasion, not a reason, since the fundamental issue is still omnipresent, especially in the wake of the Second Artsakh War, in fact, it has now become more evident that science, especially natural and technical science, is the pillar that can lead the way in providing for Armenia’s long-term development.

There is no doubt that the question is elsewhere: how, by what mechanisms and to what extent should research funding be ensured so that it could yield actual results and reach out those engaged in research activities? And also how to ensure that the legacy left by the older generation of outstanding scientists is effectively continued until it becomes an applicable result. This is a fundamental task, and today we should try to find solutions and take note of innovative ideas about the mechanisms and prospects for developing such solutions, in general. One thing is obvious: we have reached a point where we need to adopt clear-cut, understandable and measurable solutions and be confident of their effectiveness.”

The existing problems and potentialities, the overall environment and the opportunities for the development of science were presented during the meeting. In this context, the speakers touched upon the steps to ensure progress in a number of areas, issues of attracting modern technologies, modernizing research infrastructure, implementing grant-funded projects, exchanging experience with foreign colleagues. There are joint projects of cooperation with foreign partners from Russia, Belarus, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, South Korea and other countries.

A number of proposals and recommendations were voiced during the exchange of views that followed. Summing up the meeting, Prime Minister Pashinyan instructed the responsible officials to develop a roadmap and an action plan for the development of science, specifying the financial needs. The Premier suggested implementing the above activities in close cooperation with the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and the State Committee of Science.