On World  Science Day, a solemn ceremony was held at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, to award the winners of the Rustaveli National Science Foundation's  Programme for young inventors and researchers “Leonardo Da Vinci”,  as well as meritorious and young scientists. The participants of the event, scientists of different generations and young students interested in science and innovation, were congratulated on World     Science Day and welcomed with speeches by Aleksandre Tsuladze, Minister of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia; Jaba Samushia, Rector of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University; and Teimuraz Dochviri, Director General of the Shota Rustaveli  National Science Foundation of  Georgia.

 Aleksandre Tsuladze and Teimuraz Dochviri presented the scientists with certificates and awards. 2024 Prize Laureate Scientists of Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation  were awarded for their outstanding achievements and contributions to science: Davit Shengelia – Doctor of Geology-Mineralogy, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia, Head  of the Petrology, Mineralogy and Lithology Department  of the Aleksandre Janelidze Institute of Geology; Elene Machavariani – Doctor of Art History, Professor, and Main Scientist-Collaborator of the Art Studies Department at the Korneli Kekelidze National Manuscripts Center of Georgia; Otar Gamkrelidze – Doctor of Legal Sciences, Professor, Senior Researcher  of Tinatin Tsereteli State and Law Institute of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Chairman of the Scientific Board;  Nodar Kakhidze – Doctor of historical sciences, professor, Main Researcher  of the Ethnology and Sociological Research Department of Niko Berdzenishvili  Research Institute of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University; Young researchers and scientists actively involved in scientific projects and programs were also awarded with the prize: Ketevan Kankava – Doctor of Medical Sciences, Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics of Tbilisi State Medical University, Leri Tavadze - Doctor in  History, Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Humanities of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University; Levan Tielidze – Doctor of Geography, Ilia State University; Irakli Lomidze – Doctor of  Physical Sciences,  scientist- collaborator  of the Institute of Quantum Physics and Engineering Technologies of Georgian Technical University; Nino Fochkhidze – Doctor of Biology, scientist-collaborator of Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine; Goneli Arakhamia - Doctor of History Sciences; Georgian National Academy of Sciences. Elisabed Zaldastanishvili- Doctor of Biology,Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology and Virology. 

 Nanuli Kotrikadze- Doctor of Biological Sciences and member of the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, won the Rustaveli Foundation's 'Women in Science' Award for  outstanding  achievements in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology.”

The winners of the 'Leonardo Da Vinci' Programme for young inventors and researchers “ -  the Grand Prix winners and students who ranked first, second, and third places were awarded with prizes and monetary awards. The 'Eco-friendly Smart Fish Farm' project creator team became the Grand Prix winner; The authors of the 'Unmanned Boat Cleaning Oil from Water' project won the first place; In second place were the developers of the ' Manufacturing technology of the revolute (5th class) bi-stable kinematic pair from the carbon woven for space application’ project. As for the Third place, it went to the students of the 'THE TATMAN' project. Soso Giorgadze, Chairman of the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia - “Sakpatenti”, along with  past  'Leonardo da Vinci' winners Anzor Kufaradze and Nata Sulakveladze, presented prizes specially established for this occasion to the participants of two innovative projects.