Armenia to operate 3 joint Armenian-French labs beginning 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net - "We cooperate with different countries. Beginning January 2010, we'll operate 3 joint labs in cooperation with French Academy of Sciences, which will enable us to conduct research in the sphere of physics, geology and archaeology. Within the frames of bilateral cooperation, 10 Armenian scientific projects will receive grants in the amount of € 70 thousand," RA NAS President Radik Martirosyan told a press conference in Yerevan.



"Expenses on each scholar in Armenia make up € 30 thousand, including salary, expenses for research etc., whereas in European countries that sum comprises € 130 thousand," Radik Martirosyan said.



At that he noted that science development strategy, as well as other similar documents bore declarative character. "Under the strategy, our scientific-research system should be brought in compliance with European standards by 2020. That implies increasing Academy's budget by 2% by making GDP allocations (10 times increase). We just have to hope that political-economic situation and relations with neighbors will establish grounds for the development of science," NAS President stressed.