YEREVAN. - The new Armenian Government program includes three points on science, one of which supposes reallocation of financial means in favor of applied science.

Deputy Chairman of State Committee of Science by Armenia's Education and Science Ministry, Vardan Sahakyan, told the aforementioned at the meeting with journalists Wednesday.

In his words, the first point relates to the modernization of the academic degree system. It is specifically proposed to shift from two academic degrees – candidate and doctor – to one – doctor, as is the practice abroad. The requirements to the Ph.D. student's and scientific dissertation will be reviewed. Vardan Sahakyan also informed that the State Committee of Science and the National Academy of Science have developed an action plan for shifting to such a system during 2017.

The second point of the government program relates to the age restriction for senior positions in science. The maximal age must be 70.

In Sahakyan's words, the analysis of scientific cadre potential showed that we have a certain number of young research fellows aged 35, this being followed by a gap of age group 35-55. And then comes a very large number of elderly workers.  According to him, one of the ways to make science attractive for youth is to stop the brain drain, which will ensure just career growth. Age restriction for senior positions is aimed exactly at this, the Deputy Chairman said.

Under the third point, the main part of the funding must be directed at the implementation of applied, as well as design and experimental programs.

Vardan Sahakyan recalled that the main part of scientific research in Armenia includes fundamental research, which is covered by 70-80 percent funding.

He also noted that the role of fundamental science definitely cannot be undervalued, fundamental research being the area where applied science and innovative ideas are born. ''It is impossible to divide the science into fundamental and applied ones; this is a very conventional division. There is science and its application,'' he said, noting that according to the number of scientific publications Armenia ranks high in the region.  But the experience shows that successful countries are those where applied science is considered as a priority in terms of funding and thus receives 70-80 percent from the overall funding.  ''And we plan to introduce such mechanisms in 2018 so that for the main research  to be applied in nature,'' he said.