Estonia to help Georgia define R&D strategy
Estonia is to provide advice to Georgia on the development of a research and development (R&D) system, it was announced on 25 July. During the Soviet era, Georgia was credited with high scientific and technological potential. However since its independence in 1991, its research base has suffered greatly from a lack of financial resources. This has lead to the destruction of the country's infrastructure and heavy brain drain. Today, Georgia's science and technology base (S&T) comprises some 110 research and technology organisations covering a wide spectrum of scientific domains and employing around 12,000 persons. Total R&D investment is in the range of &8364;9 million per year, which is around 0.2 per cent of GDP. Almost all research is publicly funded by the State, mainly via the Academy of Science and via the Georgian National Science Foundation, or through international scientific assistance programmes. The new cooperation programme was jointly initiated by the Representation of the European Commission in Georgia and the Archimedes Foundation, an independent body established by the Estonian government in 1997 to coordinate and implement EU programmes and projects in the field of training, education, research, technological development and innovation. The overall aim is to assist the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science and the National Science Foundation of Georgia in defining a clear strategy and transparent policy for the modernisation of the overall R&D policy system in Georgia. Relying on Estonia's experience of the EU arena, the programme will also seek to formulate recommendations to improve Georgian legislative framework in line with EU standards and increase the country's participation in EU R&D Framework Programmes in the future. The Archimedes Foundation will be responsible for coordinating the overall assessment and comparative analysis of the existing R&D situation in Georgia and the creation of effective administration models. The final model will be put to the research community and other important stakeholders for open debate.
Countries
Estonia, Georgia