Armenia eyes H2020 participation
Armenia has announced its plan to join the EU’s research and innovation framework programme.
The government in Yerevan assembled multiple organisations in order to discuss the country’s science and technology goals for 2016, as well as budgetary allocation. The interagency consultation was led by the country’s Minister for Education and Science, Armen Ashotyan.
Delivering its recommendations for 2016, the Armenian State Committee of Science at the Education Ministry recommended a budget of AMD 14.4bn (~€26.5m). Modifications were raised regarding the financial envelope during a debate, though the organisations involved in the interagency consultation welcomed the plan. The committee added that the present scientific priorities would be again implemented.
It is understood that the majority of the 2016 science budget will be directed towards Armenia’s contribution to the Horizon 2020 budget in order to allow the country to take part.
Discussions regarding the science budget will now take place in government, before taking place in parliament.
