The Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Dimitri Shashkini, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alexandre Khetaguri, the President of the National Bank, Giorgi Kadagidze, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Giorgi Vashadze and the Director of “Sakpatenti”, Giorgi Ghvaladze awarded the winners of “the Leonardo Da Vinci “Contest. The exhibition of inventions was organized in Expo- Georgia Gallery.

“The Leonardo Da Vinci” Contest is administered by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation under the Ministry. This year, the competition became international, as adults from other countries also participated in it.

Best 4 projects were selected by the jury. Grand prix was granted to Soso Mamukashvili for his invention “Smart Solar Energy Receiver”, he will take up a 4 week study tour in England.

The top place contestants were awarded with cash prizes:

•    1st place -  Giorgi Popov and Bogdan Egikov- (joint Georgian-Ukrainian project)- 5 000 GEL
•    2nd place – Avtandil Tsitskishvili, Lasha Abashidze and Revaz Chanidze - 3 000 GEL
•    3 rd place –Veronika Kazak- (from Moldova) – 2 000 GEL.

All other participants were presented with the portable computers.

The innovative projects have been developed in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Engineering. The exhibition of these projects will last for two days, during this time the young inventors will make a short presentation of their own projects and will answer the questions of the visitors. Schoolchildren from the capital and regional schools came to visit the exhibition.

The main goals of the competition is to enhance the knowledge of the schoolchildren, support developing a creative thinking, get them interested in technical innovations and progress and reveal the schoolchildren inventors.