Levon Mkrtchyan: Armenian scientist should be prepared so that they could transform scientific product into a business idea

ArmInfo. The number of investment  projects implemented in 2016 and planned for 2017 in the field of  education and science, is 44. According to Levon Mkrtchyan, the   Minister of Science and Education, during  his meeting with  journalists, the  largest volume of financing is allocated for the  loan project on Education Improvement, which cost is estimated at USD  37,5 mln ( USD 30 mln  is the WB share, and USD 7,5 mln is the  Government's share). 

The project of Inclusive Education Capacity Improvement in Armenia,  with its cost at USD 285 thousand, is planned to implement within the  support of USAID. The Ministry of  Education and Science states also  the importance of  Sustainable School Food Project, which cost at the  moment of its start  formed USD 28 mln. The Project started in 2010  within joint efforts of Armenian Government and World Food program of  UN. 

For the construction of Ayb school   in 2016-2017 it is planned to  allocate USD 3,4 mln, and and amount of USD 1,3 mln will be aimed at  students participation in international contests.  According to the  Minister, one of the best projects is the construction of Chinese  school. The  Project is implemented within the participation of  Chinese  Government  and  co-financing of the Government of Armenia (  the Chinese share of investments will form USD 10 mln 552 thsnd, and  Armenian - 2 mln 474 thsnd).  An amount of USD 1, 7 mln has been   allocated for the construction of Smart centers in Vanadzor  during  2016, and in 2017 the investments will form USD 2, 8 mln. Investment  projects are being implemented also at Armenian Universities. In  2017, through  implementation of grant based projects, and amount of  USD 4,4 mln will be invested in the Universities of the country. At  the same time, according to the Minister, one of the largest programs  is the student campus  construction project with its cost at USD 999  thsnd,  implemented within the funding of USAID/ASHA. 

Folowing Levon Mkrtchyan, there is a lot to do in respect to the  scientific sector improvement also. The Minister stated that there  are serious problems existing in this sphere, and that Armenian  scientists should be  prepared so that  they could  transform   scientific product into a business idea. 

In common,  according to levon Mkrtchyan, in 2016  10 investment  projects have been implemented in the scientific sector in 2016. At  the same time, as  Minister mentione, a large investment project of  Candle, which was funded  with AMD 237 mln  by the Paul Scherrer  Institut (PSI) of Switzerland , and AMD 9,5 mln by German partners,  expects additional AMD 180 mln investment from Germany in 2017.