Panorama.am

17:06 18/08/06

A NEW PACKAGE PROMISES REFORMS IN SCIENCE

Levon Lazarian, minister of science and education, indicated failures
in the system of science, saying the number of scientists goes
down while scientific institutions grow. The minister said there are
5,000-6,000 scientists and about 200 scientific institutions in Armenia
now. Most are registered as closed stock companies, he informed.

The government session today approved the list of reforms to be
implemented in the field of science. An inter-ministry group had been
established by a president’s decree coordinated by the ministry of
education and science and National Academy of Sciences. The package
of reforms suggests three approaches: research of international
experience, establishment of new institutions and development of
management mechanisms. It envisages more than two dozen events,
including, problem identification, definition of priorities,
development of a concept paper, cooperation with the European Union,
legislative improvements, etc.

The minister said they will refrain from rapid and sharp changes,
saying, "scientists of different fields will be incorporated into
the system." He voiced his hope that a Fund for Science will be
established, saying "all world countries have come to such an
idea." /Panorama.am/