The message of KGSMS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan on the occasion of the International Day of Science:
"Representatives of the field of science, dear scientists, researchers, I congratulate you on the International Day of Science.
Today, as the world faces many challenges and unfolding uncertainty, the public expectation to find answers to questions through science is only growing.
The knowledge-based economy, the introduction of smart tools in all public spheres, the need to analyze large amounts of data essentially require minimal research skills not only for scientists, but also for many people involved in professional services, citizens in various life situations.
The policy adopted by the RA government, aimed at reforms in the field of science and education, aims to develop the scientific potential, making it internationally competitive. I would like to emphasize the priority of the development of both natural, humanitarian and social sciences and the importance of complementing each other, which determines the real development of the state and society.
Moreover, I would like to emphasize with pleasure that the main targets set in the field of science in 2021 by the Government's program are already a reality and make it possible to think about the development strategy of the next stage.
In particular, the Government's policy in the field of science has made the salaries of scientists in the field competitive, increasing only the base funding up to 300 percent, introducing various formats of thematic funding, new grants, thanks to which young scientists and postgraduates are trained in the best scientific centers abroad.
Remote laboratories are established in cooperation with reputable scientists from abroad, scientists from abroad, including from the Diaspora, also move to Armenia to carry out scientific work with local researchers, and also to teach.
Researches of an applied nature important for the economy are carried out, scientific works aimed at the country's defense capability, modern high-value scientific equipment are acquired every year in unprecedented volumes, which allow us to carry out the highest level research work in our country, forming an internationally competitive scientific community.
Thanks to these works, we have been registering an increase in the number of researchers engaged in science for two years already, breaking the trend of the decrease in the number of those engaged in scientific work in previous years.
Moreover, a large number of those engaged in science are young scientists, showing that engaging in science in our country is becoming a competitive and interesting way of life for young people.
From 2021, the All-School Science Festival is being organized, this year the Science Week was held for the first time in cooperation with partners, the new science and information laboratories established in schools will promote the experimental mind and environment, creating favorable conditions for the selection of research work.
At the same time, various indicators show that more and more scientific results are being created in universities, which should only be encouraged by integrating higher education and science as much as possible. The Academic City, considered one of the government's priority projects, will become a quality environment necessary for higher education and research, forming a wonderful environment for doing science.
The draft law "On Higher Education and Science" submitted for public discussion will provide the institutional basis for the development agendas of science and higher education. We will have another opportunity to talk about the development of science within the framework of the science development strategy, which we plan to launch in the near future.
We live in difficult times, where the prerequisite for moving forward is to talk about difficult questions and seek their answers. Science is one of the most effective ways to answer difficult questions, where honesty, the ability to doubt and the ability to learn from mistakes are very important.
I wish our scientists, researchers, all representatives of the scientific field freedom of thought and creative and effective work.
Happy International Science Day!