The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, Mikheil Chkhenkeli hosted the representatives of IDOM (Spain), one of the world's leading architectural bureaus, and IBA (Belgium), a manufacturer of proton therapy equipment for cancer treatment. The companies are involved in the establishment of Hadron Therapy Center at Kutaisi International University. During the business meeting, the parties discussed the details of the project construction and its further development.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli noted that, currently, there are two world-class mega-projects that are being implemented in the Georgian education system - Kutaisi International University and the Hadron Therapy Center. The Minister emphasized that the author of the idea and the entire concept of Kutaisi International University belongs to Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili. As a result of his and his family's extremely important contribution, a world-class academic space has emerged in the country, which gives young people the opportunity to receive a higher level of education in Georgia.

Moreover, Mikheil Chkhenkeli focused on the topic of internationalization and noted that the current programs at the university are analogous to the academic programs of the Technical University of Munich. According to the Minister, this approach will be maintained in the coming years and new academic programs will emerge at the university for all three levels of education. Each of them will be based on the academic programs of the world's leading universities. Notably, all lectures at Kutaisi International University are given by foreign professors in conjunction with their Georgian counterparts.

Additionally, the Minister highlighted, that particular importance is given to the scientific-research aspect at Kutaisi International University. The project is fully funded and implemented by the International Charity Fund "Cartu". The Hadron Therapy Center will be established on the university premises, that will house two cyclotron-type accelerators, which are currently being manufactured by the world's leading manufacturer of cancer proton therapy equipment - IBA. One of the cyclotrons will be used to treat tumors with ultra-modern methods, whereas another one will be fully utilized for scientific research process in nuclear experimental physics, radiation biophysics and chemistry. Also a proton therapy clinic will be founded, where oncological diseases will be treated with modern methods. It is planned that Georgia will join the international network of proton therapy centers.

The world's leading researchers in the field of oncology and proton therapy are already willing to conduct a scientific research process in Kutaisi together with Georgian scientists. Accordingly, Kutaisi International University and Hadron Therapy Center will become an academic and scientific center of world importance.

IDOM, one of the world's leading architectural bureaus, was selected in 2020 to design the buildings of the Hadron and Proton Center based on international experience and best practices.

The cooperation agreement with the IBA entered into force on January 28, 2020, which envisages the purchase of two cyclotron-type accelerators - Proteus®ONE solution - at the Kutaisi Hadron Therapy Center and the provision of long-term operational and technical services. The cost of the project is up to 40 million euros.

Nikoloz Chkhetiani - Chairman of the Board at the International Charity Fund "Cartu", Vakhtang Tsagareli and Tamar Dvali, also representatives of the Fund, Alexander Tevzadze – Rector at Kutaisi International University and Chancellor Magda Maghradze attended the meeting held at the Ministry.