On the occasion of World Science Day, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with representatives of the Gituzh initiative to discuss upcoming steps aimed at advancing the science sector in Armenia.
The meeting covered recent reforms in science, new provisions in the law adopted this year, the forthcoming five-year strategic plan, and mechanisms for funding and implementing scientific projects.
“We’ve often discussed the previous phase, including the timeline for increasing salaries in the science sector, which reached completion this January 1. Now we must assess what this experience has taught us and define our vision going forward,” said Pashinyan.
Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan said that cooperation with Gituzh has been active and effective, contributing to key breakthroughs. She highlighted the newly enforced Law on Higher Education and Science, effective since October 20, which lays institutional groundwork for sustained scientific progress.
Andreasyan also noted that a new five-year science development strategy is currently in public consultation. “The Ministry welcomes suggestions, as the draft strategy is still open and input will be valuable,” she said.
She added that the Ministry has collaborated with Gituzh for a second year on Science Week, aimed at promoting public engagement in science, particularly among children. Tools and methodologies have even been developed for use in preschools. More than 300 schools and kindergartens have participated in experiments and events.
Tigran Shahverdyan, a Gituzh member, emphasized that the initiative unites 202 tech companies and 24 business associations. He stated their mission is to promote science and technology in close cooperation with the government. He also noted that increased academic science funding in recent years has helped halt the sector’s near-collapse.
The discussion also focused on Armenia’s state strategy for research and technological development, and on integrating science into sectors like the economy, food security, and governance. Funding mechanisms and organizational matters were also addressed.
The Prime Minister urged Gituzh members to continue working closely with the Ministry and the Science Committee, submitting proposals on the identified issues.
He also stated that the government is ready to allocate special funding from the state budget to scientific projects that have passed initial phases and are ready for practical implementation.
