The Parliament of Georgia has ratified the Horizon 2020 program Association Agreement resulting in Georgia becoming a full-fledged Horizon 2020 Program associated country.
With the effort of the Georgian government, prior to the agreement ratification, the Georgian participants could only participate as a temporary associated country status member in the program.
The associated country status gives the Georgian scientists and innovators, as well as the Georgian-based legal entities such as (universities, research institutions, small and medium enterprises, research-oriented agencies, non-governmental organizations, business companies, foundations, government agencies, etc.) the right to the same conditions and the rights, which the European member states exercise. In case of victory in Horizon 2020 competition, the Georgian research and innovation organizations will be able to obtain hundreds of thousands of euros in grant funding, in conjunction with carrying out research activities in Georgia, host the beginner or experienced researches from around the world, and realize their innovative ideas and plans. The victory in such competition also enables the strengthening of the research centers, which are based in Georgia.