With the project – Science is Captain, Georgia joined the European Researcher’s Night for the first time this year and appeared on the map of current events simultaneously across EU member states and Horizon 2020 associate countries.

On November 27, the main event of the project - Science is Captain was held, where the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli awarded the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health for outstanding contribution to the supervision and management of COVID-19 in the country. The certificate of appreciation was handed over to the deputy head, Paata Imnadze.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: "An extremely important event dedicated to science was held under the auspices of the European Union. I would like to thank the European Union for supporting science in Georgia. This event creates a new arena for our scientists in terms of implementing joint projects. The development of science is extremely important for the development of the country and its economy. The vital significance of science and cooperation was especially evident under the conditions of the pandemic.

As part of the event, we honored the esteemed scientists and physicians at Lugar Centre. Given the opportunity, I would like to thank each of the employees for their dedicated work. They are in the vanguard, risking their lives to combat the invisible enemy, and for this they are truly the heroes of modern times”.

The event also awarded researchers and scientists who won various grant competitions within the scope of Horizon 2020. Including: National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases; Center for Social Sciences; Organic Farming Association "Elkana"; and Georgian Association of Landscape Architects (GALA).

Moreover, between November 27-28, a large-scale, multidisciplinary, and cognitive events were held remotely in Tbilisi, Telavi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Akhaltsikhe and Zugdidi.

"Science is Captain" serves to present science as a part of the daily life of all layers of society and to popularize science amongst the public of Georgia. The project "Science is Captain" presented by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia won the Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA European Researchers' Night competition, established by the EU program Horizon 2020. The competition has been promoting science and innovation through large-scale events since 2005.