The presentation of the European Union’s “Horizon Europe” program and the “EURAXESS
Armenia” portal took place in cooperation with the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
(NAS), the Science Committee of the Armenian Academy of Sciences of the Republic of
Armenia, the Scientific and Innovative Partnership Support Center (SIPSC) and the European
Commission.
The package of activities of association and cooperation of Armenia was presented. On
November 12, the agreement on Armenia’s participation in the “Horizon Europe” framework
program, which is planned for 2021-2027, was signed in Brussels. It will allow researchers to
integrate into the pan-European scientific network, to take advantage of the opportunities offered
by the largest EU scientific cooperation with a budget of 95 billion euros.
“EURAXESS. am” project. Yerevan State University (YSU), Yerevan State Medical University
(YSU), National Scientific and Educational Center of RA NAS are members of the pan-
European project.
Tigran Arzumanyan, director of the Scientific and Innovative Partnership Support Center,
assures that the scope of international scientific cooperation will be expanded thanks to the
platform. The network includes 43 organizations that promote the development and progress of
researchers by creating a common market.
“The EURAXESS portal offers many job opportunities and trainings. Experts help researchers
move from one country to another. 75,000 researchers, 20,000 organizations are now registered
on the portal. There are more than 2,000 funding opportunities,” says Tigran Arzumanyan.
The speakers note that the manifestations of international cooperation are already visible thanks
to the global innovative “Horizon Europe” program. One such example is the COBRAIN project
born from the cooperation of the EU and Yerevan State Medical University. It won the Horizon
2020 “Twinning” program, with which YSU became the coordinator of “Cobrain”. The Center of
Excellence for Brain Research will contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases and ensure its
healthy functioning. YSU cooperates with the universities of Bonn, Tübingen, Lund. The
university’s formula for success is presented by vice-rector for science, “COBRAIN”
coordinator, Professor Konstantin Yenkoyan.
“We decided to delve into brain research, to consolidate the professional potential of scientists
from molecular biology, chemistry and other related fields and to “invade the brain” and become
an expert in this field. This kind of scientific potential will allow us to be positioned on the
global scientific map,” says the professor.
When entering the field of science, young scientists face a number of obstacles, such as the lack
of infrastructure, the problem of comprehensive scientific funding, which is carried out on a
small scale. It is important for a scientist to focus on scientific work rather than fundraising.
Suzanna Shamakhyan, vice-president for strategic programs of the Science and Technology
Foundation of Armenia, presents such issues. The fund cooperates with universities and NAS
institutes. It is planned to complete 10 scientific programs by next year, the funding of which
reaches 125,000 dollars.
“Our task is to understand what kind of programs should be implemented in order for Armenia to
be included in the list of innovative countries, what steps should be taken to make the scientific
career attractive, what resources and opportunities are there for the development of young
scientists. There is an “aging phenomenon” of scientific workers in Armenia. In addition, there is
also a problem of scientific leaders, and it is very important to include diaspora scientists in such
programs,” says Shamakhyan.
“Horizon Europe” will allow to create institutional potential around scientific groups in the
specified fields, as a result of which international cooperation will become continuous.
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