The construction of Hadron Therapy Center on the campus of Kutaisi International University has commenced. A symbolic capsule planting ceremony was held at the construction site. The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Georgia - Irakli Gharibashvili, the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia - Mikheil Chkhenkeli, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the International Charitable Foundation "Kartu" - Nikoloz Chkhetiani, the Rector of Kutaisi International University - Aleksandre Tevzadze, as well as IBA’s chairman of the supervisory board - Pierre Motte.

In his speech, the head of the Georgian government highlighted that the project is financed by the Kartu Foundation, which is conducted in cooperation with IBA, the world’s leading manufacturer of proton therapy equipment for treating cancer and other oncological diseases.

The Prime Minister thanked the Kartu Foundation and its management for the implementation of the project.

Within the framework of the event, Mikheil Chkhenkeli also addressed the invited guests, and spoke about the importance of establishing the Hadron therapy centre on the university campus.

Mikheil Chkhenkeli: "Our Hadron therapy centre is truly unique. As the Prime Minister already emphasized, the two cyclotrons, which are already fully constructed, will function here. The leading manufacturing company IBA is in the final phase of testing of the equipment. These two cyclotrons make our centre truly exceptional, as it underlines the multidisciplinary nature of the establishment. One of these cyclotrons will be used for cancer treatment. This is the cutting edge of cancer treatment today. During the proton therapy, when the patient is irradiated, only the cancer cells are affected, whereas the healthy cells remain intact. This is the crucial importance and as Mr. Prime Minister already pointed out, it is extremely important in the treatment of patients, especially the young ones. Therefore, I will repeat it again, this Hadron therapy will save the lives of may.

Furthermore, the second cyclotron will be completely devoted to the scientific research process. I personally had the good fortune to meet the leading scientists of the world together with the leaders of the Kartu Foundation and discuss this in detail. All parties seem to be eager and very enthusiastic about collaborating and researching in the name of science. They have already expressed their willingness to conduct high-level scientific research in medicine, medical and nyclear physics here at Kutaisi International University.

It was a very emotional moment when, all of us, together with the heads of Kartu Foundation saw the cyclotrons for the very first time with the Georgian flag on them. These cyclotrons will soon be in Georgia. Hadron Therapy centre is officially a part of Kutaisi International University, because the establishment of this much needed connection between scientific research and academia is vitally important.

Kutaisi International University will educate the future generation of Georgian scientists who will actively work within the centre. In this regard, I have another important news that I want to share with the public - we are starting the first doctoral program at Kutaisi International University. This is an international doctoral program in nuclear physics, which we will implement together with one of the leading universities in Germany - Aachen University. The entire premise of our university is that every single academic program is developed in collaboration with one of the world’s leading universities.

We are all very proud that after only one year Kutaisi International University ranks first among state universities according to the national exam scores. This, of course, makes me utterly proud and content. Once again, I would like to congratulate you with all my heart on today's historic day - the start of the construction of the Hadron Center and I’d like to wish you all success!"

Within the framework of the event, a corresponding letter regarding the construction of the hadronic therapy centre was signed, which was placed in the capsule.

The construction of the hadron therapy centre on the campus of Kutaisi International University is completely financed by the Kartu Foundation. The centre is established in cooperation with IBA, the world's leading manufacturer of proton therapy equipment for cancer treatment. The company has already built two ultra-modern cyclotrons for the hadronic therapy centre. One cyclotron will be completely used for cancer treatment with ultra-modern therapy methods, which are highly effective for the treatment of cancer patients, especially the children. The second cyclotron will be intended for scientific research in medical and nuclear physics. The fact that one cyclotron will be entirely devoted for research creates great interest from the international scientific community - many famous foreign scientists have already expressed their desire to join the research process together with their Georgian peers.

Within the framework of the event dedicated to the start of the construction of the hadron therapy centre, the honorary rector of the university, Wolfgang Herman and the scientific director of the Dresden-Rossendorf Helmholtz Center (HZDR), Sebastian Schmidt, the chairman of the advisory board of Kutaisi International University, addressed the audience in a remote format. The event was attended by representatives of the executive and legislative bodies and the diplomatic corps of Georgia.