On 15-19 August 2016, the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (SRNSF) organized a seminar dedicated to the document 'Policy Mix Peer Review of the Georgian STI System'. The aim of the seminar was to discuss international experts’ recommendations and develop a bottom-up draft action plan with relation to the key messages provided in the PMPR document.

The seminar took place in Ozurgeti, Georgia and was attended by the representatives of Georgia’s higher educational institutions (including the universities form different regions of Georgia), scientific-research centers, Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA), National Intellectual Property Center SAKPATENTI and SRNSF. Seminar participants presented brief overviews of the existing situation in their respective institutions regarding the following discussion topics:

 

 

• STI system funding schemes and opportunities;
• Integration of teaching and research: increasing dialogue and cooperation among higher educational institutions, scientific research centers;
• Research internationalization;
• Research, technologies and innovation transfer and connection to business sector, research commercialization. Cooperation opportunities between universities and SMEs;
• Supporting young scientists’ development: programs and opportunities, funding schemes. Attracting and integrating young scientists in universities and scientific-research centers;
• Supporting Georgia’s researchers’ participation in EU Research and Innovation framework program Horizon 2020: challenges and opportunities.