The Kutaisi International University hosted the conference “EU-Georgia - Georgia's Full Engagement in Horizon Europe”. The Georgian Minister of Education and Science Mikheil Chkhenkeli opened the conference, spoke about the steps taken in terms of science development and wished the participants fruitful work. Rector of the Kutaisi International University Alexandre Tevzadze addressed the guests, emphasized the importance of the program and thanked the participants for attending the conference.
The European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel attended the conference. The European Commissioner spoke about the importance of Georgia's signing the international association agreement in the European Union's new research and innovation framework program, Horizon Europe, and noted that the European Union will continue to support Georgia in the process of reforming its economy. The participants of the conference were also welcomed by the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartzel.
It should be noted that the conference is an important platform for the exchange of information and experiences between the representatives of the European Commission, the relevant agencies and the academic community of Georgia. The participants of the two-day conference discussed the possibilities of Georgia's participation in the Horizon Europe program, the structure of the program, the action plan for the current year as well as the strategic plans and perspectives of the Horizon Europe National Office. Good opportunities for participation in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie, European Research Council (ERC), European Innovation Council (EIC) and COST programs were also discussed.
Nunu Mickiewicz, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, and Signe Ratso, Deputy Director-General of Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, addressed the opening session of the conference.
During the interactive session of the conference, the participants of four successful projects from Georgia shared their experiences with the conference participants and answered the questions.
The conference was organized and initiated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. The choice of Kutaisi International University for organizing the conference is a symbolic step and once again stresses the desire of Georgia to make the University an international hub of education, science and technology in the region. The establishment of the Kutaisi International University is an important event in the direction of internationalization of higher education and science.
The University envisions developing a research infrastructure equipped with modern and up to date technology, which will be used for developing undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in cooperation with a leading university in a certain field.
A Hadron Therapy Center will be established at the Kutaisi International University to conduct scientific research in the field of medical and nuclear physics. The research topics of the Hadron Therapy Center are precisely in line with the objectives of the Horizon Europe 2030 program, whose priority is to fund projects to fight cancer. Georgia therefore has a unique opportunity to become a major player in medical physics research and to have its say at the global level.
It should be noted that with the direct involvement of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, Georgia became a member of the new European Union Framework Program for Research and Innovation - Horizon Europe, and a national Horizon Europe office was established in Georgia.
