Georgia Welcomed into EU’s Research and Innovation Society

Researchers and innovators from Georgia will now be able to participate in Horizon 2020, the EU’s framework program for research and innovation, under the same conditions as their counterparts from EU Member States and other associated countries. Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, and Tamar Sanikidze, Georgian Minister of Education and Science signed the associaton agreement between Georgia and Horizon 2020 on April 29.

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation program ever. With nearly 77 billion Euros of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020), it promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market. Horizon 2020 is seen as a means to drive economic growth and create jobs. The association agreement signed by Georgia covers the years 2016-2020 and opens up new opportunities for the country’s scientific community.

Participation in Horizon 2020 programs is now available for all Georgian scientists, researchers and innovators, as well as Georgia-based legal entities (universities, research institutions, non-governmental organizations, small and medium enterprises, business of companies, foundations, government agencies, and more).

“I’m very pleased to welcome Georgia into Horizon 2020, the world’s largest public funding program for research and innovation,” said Moedas. “EU research, science and innovation is open to the world for collaboration and we value working together with our partners to invest in knowledge and innovation for the future. Georgia’s association will bring a diversity of expertise and ideas, enriching our international research cooperation.”

The Minister of Education and Science of Georgia claims that this agreement once again proves what a great role science has in the country’s development. “What we have achieved is that Georgia has become part of a single European research area. This is not only an important step for the country, but brings with it a myriad of interesting proposals and opportunities for our scientists,” said Tamar Sanikidze, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia.

In the seventh framework program (2007-2013) preceding Horizon 2020, Georgian organizations participated in 49 signed projects. They have already participated in eight projects within the framework of Horizon 2020.

Eka Karsaulidze