The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli participated in the 17^th Annual Round Table of Ministers of Science and Technology within the STS Forum (Science and Technology in Society Forum), where representatives of 35 countries discussed the importance of science and technology in the post-pandemic period.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli addressed the public and spoke about the future plans for the development of science and technology in Georgia.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: “It is a great honor for me to participate in the Round Table of the Ministers of Science and Technology. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for hosting the annual forum during this difficult period.

Today we live in an era of unprecedented advances in science and technology that create endless opportunities for society. At the same time, humanity faces various global threats, and the COVID-19 pandemic is an example of this. The coronavirus pandemic has clearly demonstrated the vital importance of science and technology. Our quest to break new frontiers of knowledge is a cornerstone of advancement in science and technology. We must create new knowledge to improve human well-being, overcome great social challenges, and combat the threats we face today as species. I am deeply convinced that the modernization and internationalization of science and technology is a significant ingredient to creating sustainable development and economic prosperity.”

Mikheil Chkhenkeli also spoke about the decision of the Georgian government to declare education and science a top priority. According to him, favorable conditions are being created in the country to establish itself as a major hub for famous scientists and research activities. The establishment of Kutaisi International University (KIU) serves exactly this purpose, which is a significant step forward in the internationalization of higher education and science in Georgia. It is noteworthy that the KIU will operate the Hadron therapy center, greatly aiding the research and treatment of oncological diseases in medicine and nuclear physics.

The STS Forum is held annually. This year, the event was held remotely on October 3-6, where the participants discussed different ways to overcome the crisis created by the pandemic. It is attended by ministers, scientists and representatives of the medical field from different countries.