Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia in cooperation with the EaP PLUS Project, funded by the EU Framework programme Horizon 2020, organized an international scientific event- Georgian Diaspora Workshop on February, 17, 2018 at the hotel Courtyard by Marriott in Tbilisi.

The event was attended by around 60 participants, and the targeted audience was selected in accordance with the Societal Challenges reflecting Georgia’s priorities and Diaspora’s potential (Major focus on Health, Biology, Alternative Energy sources).

Major aim of the event was support in identification cooperation opportunities in fame of Horizon 2020 between successful Georgian scientists abroad and scientist, students and SME representatives residing in Georgia.

The event was divided into three sessions, out of which the speakers made presentations regarding Horizon 2020 funding opportunities and their professional background during the 1^st session:

• Zaal Kokaia, Professor and Director of Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Sweden – European Research Council, Grant calls and funding opportunities;
• David Prangishvili- Professor at the  Pasteur Institute of Paris, France (Archaea, virology) –International Cooperation opportunities, participation in Horizon 2020  funded projects;
• Guram Khelashvili – PhD in Alternative Energy Sources from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Research and Development Department at Strem Chemicals, Inc – International Cooperation opportunities for Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs); (including opportunities in H2020);
• David Tskhakaya- PhD in theoretical Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Austia – International cooperation opportunities for Georgian scientists, Horizon 2020 funded project EUROFusion;
• Meri Rogava- young scientist, Biomedical Sciences, Universität Bonn, Germany –Horizon 2020 work programme, opportunities for the consortia building in participation to H2020 projects;
• Khatuna Kakhiani – Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, PhD in Theoretical Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany - Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) –opportunities for Georgian scientists;

Second session of the workshop had rather practical value and was moderated by the speakers. Each group identified various important issues related to Horizon 2020 such as project writing, partner search, consortia building and other opportunities for Georgian scientists, SME representatives etc.

Third session (mini brokerage event) was conducted in more of a mini brokerage event format where participants enlarged their networking opportunities, expressed their opinion and exchanged information regarding participation in international projects. The very interactive working sessions were successfully conducted and the participants gained immense knowledge regarding Horizon 2020 funding opportunities and identified future collaboration capabilities.