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It will be irrelevant to speak about the role of science within this frame work. It is known that in Armenia, and in the world in general, science is about innovations that create new opportunities. And especially considering the geographical position, advantages, and traditions of Armenia, it is obvious that scientific, educational, and technological investments can provide the greatest results. The NA Vice President Hakob Arshakyan said this during the work debate on the topic The Role of Science and Technology in Strengthening Security and Developing its Economy held on the initiative of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport on November 19.

According to Hakob Arshakyan, this is the main reason that in recent years, large budget allocations have been made in the science sector. That is another issue if it is sufficient or not. “I would like once again to assure you that this is the most important topic for us, and we are ready to make every effort to find the right solutions,” the NA Vice President underscored.

Deputies, scientists, officials of sectoral ministries, chancellors of higher educational institutions, representatives, entrepreneurs of concerned organizations participated in the debate, which moderated the Committee Chair Sisak Gabrielyan and the NA Vice President Hakob Arshakyan.

The officials of the Ministries of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, High-Tech Industry, Economy presented the state policy being pursued in the sector, the revised programmes and the strategy.

Giving a speech the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan informed that now the bill enshrining amendments to the law on Higher Education and Science is at the stage of revision.

The Minister detailed the four directions outlined in the Government programme, and answered the attendees’ questions. In particular, it was noted that in recent years the financing of the science sector increase by about 280%. The number of young scientists and researchers also increased. Speaking about the Academic City, the Minister noted that the availability of that program does not mean that at this moment other work is suspended or canceled.

Afterwards, the Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry Gevorg Mantashyan informed that The Ministry presented a programme to support information technologies and high technologies, which is unprecedented in its scope and content for the recent period, where special attention was attached to funding and supporting research work. The Deputy Minister also noted the other programmes of the Ministry aimed at the development of science.

The member of Gituzh Initiative Tigran Shahverdyan presented to the participants the vision of the initiative, according to which, the science and technologies should be a tool for strengthening security of Armenia and developing its economy. The Gituzh Initiative was born in 2021.for making this simple idea as part of state policy making, but until now it is not completely perceived, and as a consequence it is not implemented,” he said, presenting some proposals.

During the exchange of ideas, the participants of the debate raised the issues concerning them, touched upon the problems existing in the sphere, highlighted the strengthening of higher educational institution-science sphere communication, the improvement of education quality, made proposals, emphasized the continuity of similar debates.

At the end of the debate, Sisak Gabrielyan informed that the debates will be continuous. They will at least twice in a year. In particular, at the beginning of the year the draft law enshrining amendments to the law on Higher Education and Science is designed to debate, then – the strategy for developing the high-tech sector initiated by the Ministry of High-Tech Industry.

Summarizing the debate, the NA Vice President Hakob Arshakyan noted that the presented proposals will be taken into consideration, and the debates will be continuous. “I suggest coming together to implement ideas,” Hakob Arshakyan said, addressing the participants of the debate.