A final stage of young research and innovators contest – “Leonardo Da Vinci” was held at the exhibition hall at TBC Bank’s Central Office. The winners of the Grand Prix, first, second and third place were announced. The Contest is held with the support and administration of the Shota Rustaveli National Foundation since 2010.

The selected contestants were given an audience with the competition committee with short-duration presentations regarding their inventions. The special competition committee announced the winners of the contest and awarded them with the special prizes.

In particular, one Grand Prix, and the winners of the first, second, and third places were announces. The winner of the Grand Prix will travel abroad on a cognitive tour. Additionally, the winner of the first place will be awarded with a sum of 5,000 GEL, whereas the winner of the second place will acquire a sum of 3,000, while the third place winner will be issued with a sum amount of 2,000 GEL. With the 42 competition applications, only 26 candidates were able to move towards the second stage. Only four projects won the competition.

Grand Prix – The innovative technology for the increased Solar cell efficiency – Giorgi Nioradze and Vakhtang Kontridze (Cervantes Gymnasium – GESS, XII grade). First place – the development of the new generation “live” food preparation for the rational utilization – Giorgi Phkhakadze (Georgian-American School Progress (Kutaisi) – XII Grade) and Maria Eradze (Niko Nikoladze School, XI Grade); Second Place – A daisy-solar parabolic reflector construction – Beka Miqadze (Cervantes Gymnasium (GESS, XII Grade) and Giorgi Margiani (New Lyceum, XII grade). Third Place – the development of self-teaching system with the help of micro-controller: Aleksandre Khokhiashvili (Komarov Tbilisi public school N199, XI grade), Dimitri Korkotashvil (Komarov Tbilisi public school N199, X grade) and Tamar Korkotashvili (Komarov Tbilisi public school N199, IX grade)

The Minister of Education and Science of Georgia – Aleksandre Jejelava and the General Director of the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation – Marine Chitashvili congratulated the winners of the competition and awarded them with the prizes.

The authors of the winning projects with the funding of the Intel Fund, will travel to Pittsburg (United States of America) on the largest international engineering exhibition, organized by Intel and participate in it. In 2014, one of the winners of the “Leonardo Da Vinci” competition – Nika Alavidze, participated in the Intel ISEF competition and held a fourth place amongst 1700 competitors.

A wide range of prizes was also arranged by:

• TBC Bank

• The representatives of Intel in Georgia

• The National Center of Intellectual Property –“Sakpatenti”

• Energy Efficiency Center Georgia

• LTD. Mtatsminda Park

The sixth traditional competition “Leonardo Da Vinci” has been active in Georgia since 2010, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation. The aim of the competition is to motivate a large stream of education, support the development of the quality of education, and kindle the students’ interest towards innovational and technology. Moreover, the competition encourages school students to be more courageous, innovative, in conjunction with stimulating their creative thinking, research and practical skills. Contenders (team or individually) include the students of VII-XII grade, from the educational institutions (both public and private schools).

Since 2010, 326 applications were received, whereas 49 projects/inventions were victorious.

The competition application in 2016 covers the following science areas: Engineering mechanics; Robotics and Intellectual Machines, Physics and Astronomy, Environmental engineering, environmental science, Chemistry/Biology/Biomedine, and Applied Systems.