The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli, together with Nikoloz Chkhetiani - Chairman of the Board of the Cartu Foundation, Tamar Gabunia - First Deputy Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, Alexander Tevzadze - Rector of Kutaisi International University, and representatives of Cartu Foundation - Vakhtang Tsagareli and Irakli Katsadze, attended the Proton Therapy International Symposium (ISOP 2020) in Lyon. The delegation discussed the project of Hadron Therapy Center on Kutaisi International University with the Symposium attendees and examined its overall importance to the region.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: “We took part in the International Symposium on Proton Therapy, which was held in Lyon, France. At the symposium, we discussed in detail the project of the Hadron Therapy Center of Kutaisi International University and the the related issues to its development. The Hadron Center is fully funded by the Cartu Foundation, which has donated € 40 million to its development. This is part of the € 1 billion investment made by Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili and his family for the Kutaisi International University mega-project. Additionally, the Center of Hadron Therapy will implement two cyclotrons. One will be used to treat cancer, a significant method for treating cancer in children. The second cyclotron will be used in scientific research in oncology, medicine in general, medical physics and nuclear physics. The symposium was attended by renowned scientists from leading research centers in Europe - Germany, France, Italy and Spain - who were extremely interested in our project and expressed their readiness to be actively involved in the research process.

Iron Beam Applications S.A., one of the world's leading medical technology companies, will be established in the region on the premises of Kutaisi International University in partnership with IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.), which will be funded by Cartu International Charitable Foundation.

Two cyclotron-type accelerators will be installed at the Hydron Therapy Center as well. Additionally, modern research on nuclear experimental physics, radiation biophysics and chemistry will be carried out on the base of the university. Moreover, a proton therapy clinic will be founded for medical purposes. It is also planned that Georgia will be involved in the International Network of Proton Therapy Centers.

The IBA Cooperation Agreement entered into force on January 28, 2020, which provides for the purchase of two cyclotron-type accelerators - Proteus®ONE solution - and the provision of long-term operational and technical services at the Kutaisi Hadron Therapy Center. The cost of the project is up to 40 million euros. The equipment will be placed at the scientific research and medical centers of Kutaisi International University. The Proton Therapy Clinic will receive its first patients in 2024 and will be the only regional one where oncological diseases will be treated with modern methods.

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is an international leader in global medical technology, developing and manufacturing proton therapy devices for the treatment and diagnosis of oncological diseases. Proton therapy is a modern rapidly evolving form of radiation therapy and it is the best treatment for many types of cancer.