100-200 MILLION DOLLARS NEEDED TO RESTORE EXPERIMENTAL BASIS OF RA NAS

Noyan Tapan
April 28, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Scientific developments of 70 themes
with basic financing and 228 themes with thematic financing continues
at 27 institutions and 4 newly-created scientific centers of the
RA National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 2007, the president of the
NAS Radik Martirosian stated at the April 25 annual meeting of the
Academy, when summarizing and positively assessing the results of
the 2007 scientific activities.

According to him, as of January 1, 2008, the RA NAS had 72 academicians
and 53 corresponding members. 140 young specialists received jobs
in the NAS system last year. 10 doctoral and 52 Ph.D. theses were
defended.

R. Martirosian said that the NAS scientific institutions continued
to take an active part in grant programs of international scientific
centers and foundations. Last year Armenian scientists received 82
grants of the total amount of nearly 5 million USD.

In the words of the NAS president, in the past 15 years repair work
has not been done in many scientific and research institutions, and
the heating systems are out of commission. He said that no funds were
allocated for purchase of new equipment, while in order to restore
the experimental basis it is necessary to develop a special state
program with financing of 100-200 mln USD.

"Over the past 65 years, the RA NAS has become a national value and
important visiting card of our people. Any change in its status or
structure should convince our public of the necessity of this step,"
R. Martirosian stated.