The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia - Mikheil Batiashvili and the Director General of Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation – Zviad Gabisonia spoke with the members of scientific circle regarding the unique pan-European initiative – EURAXESS, and emphasized the immense opportunities that arise for Georgian scientists and researchers by joining the association. 

“At the end of September, an important agreement was signed for our country in Brussels. According to this agreement, Georgia has become an official member of Euraxess, a united European scientific platform. This means that this agreement actually provides the Georgian scientists and each of our researchers with the resources that scientists in EU member states currently have. Georgian scholars will have access to large European funds and the chance of cooperation with various European institutions, just as any EU scientist would. Our young researchers have real opportunity to carry out joint scientific projects” stated Mikheil Batiashvili.

Zviad Gabisonia, Head of the Shota Rustaveli Georgia Science Foundation, spoke about the creation of the EURAXESS official representation in Georgia. The delegation will provide Georgian scientists with all the technical details needed to properly utilize the services provided by EURAXESS. As Zviad Gabisonia noted, Abkhazian scientists will have the opportunity to use the program on behalf of Georgia.

“EURAXESS-Georgia was founded a week ago and we already have conducted large amounts of meetings with numerous universities. In order for Georgian scientists to have direct access to EURAXESS, they need to know all the technical details. This is how our scientists are able to benefit from the huge budget allocated by the EU, which is about one hundred billion. As of this moment, the current grants and competition budgets amounts to two billion euros. Georgian scientists now have the opportunity to register passively, and as soon as the website is launched in January, they will be fully registered.  This will allow scholars to take part in competitions in Georgian, English and Abkhaz languages. Of course, Abkhazian scientists will be able to compete on behalf of Georgia“ - said Zviad Gabisonia.

As the Rector of the Technical University Archil Frangishvili noted, joining the EU Interstate Organization for Research and Innovation will give Georgian scientists new opportunities for development.

“Georgia's membership of such an immense platform will greatly contribute to Georgian scientists and researchers both in obtaining scientific information and collaborating with various foundations and in joint research projects. By joining EURAXESS, each of our researchers will have the unique opportunity to deepen and enhance their scientific collaborations and develop careers in line with their research and research interests,”- stated Archil Frangishvili.

Georgia officially became a member of the EURAXESS international research and innovation organization on September 24 of this year. The relevant document was signed in Brussels by the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia - Mikheil Batiashvili, the Director of the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation - Zviad Gabisonia and the Deputy Director General of the European Commission Research and Innovation - Patrick Child.