YEREVAN. - The President of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (NAS) Radik Martirosyan cannot single out one specific achievement in science during 2014, since achievements are many. Of course, none of them has been proposed for the Nobel Prize, but all of these achievements can be applicable in agriculture and industry of Armenia if the state does order them. This is indeed a very important question today, Mr Martirosyan told Armenian News – NEWS.am during the annual meeting of the Academy on Friday.
The President specifically mentioned that the Institute of Molecular Biology has developed an immonumodulator which can be used as vaccine for livestock against foot-and-mouth disease. The mentioned vaccine has already received patent of the Ministry of Agriculture for the use in country’s different agricultural fields. Besides, new types of fertilizers and pharmaceuticals have been processed; new high-speed temperature scanner is created, etc.
“For these projects to be applied we need a formulated state order,” Mr Martirosyan said, noting that this is a serious problem and that negotiations on this matter are currently being conducted with different agencies.
According to Armenian Ultimate Qualification Commission President Lilit Arzumanyan, the lack of demand for scientific innovations is related to Armenia’s poor economy. “Science and economy must be strongly interrelated, which is unfortunately not the case in Armenia,” she told Armenia News. – NEWS.am.
Academician-Secretary of NAS Hrant Matevosyan also touched upon this problem in his speech during the meeting. He pointed out three types of scientific project funding: basic, thematic and target. The first two types require the researchers to submit funding application for their scientific work (bottom to top principle), while in case of target funding, the state has to make an order (top to bottom principle). However, even the latter operates on the basis of the bottom-to-top principle, which makes the situation really absurd.
“Nevertheless, target projects must be formulated as state order taking into account the interests and needs of the state.” Mr Matevosyan said.
