News

On September 27, 2017, the EaP PLUS Project Diaspora Workshop on “Promoting cooperation between researchers in Armenia and Diaspora in ICT and Related Fields” was organised at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.

The workshop was organised by the EaP PLUS project and in the framework of the traditional biannual  "International Conference on Computer Sciences and Information Technologies".

The main aim of the workshop was to bring together Armenian and Diaspora researchers from European Countries to facilitate cooperation towards setting up partnerships and networking that could evolve to consortia for joint applications to EU HORIZON2020 Programme, particularly in the field of Information Technologies and related sciences. The event was attended by representatives of the European Commission and the EU Delegation to Armenia, researchers of Armenian origin from Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway and United Kingdom, as well as representatives of various research institutes, universities and enterprises of Armenia. Diaspora researchers were representing such European universities as Amsterdam University of Applied Science, Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser in Heraklion, University of Bergen and Cobham Wireless Company in London. The workshop was attended by around 45 participants in total.

In his welcome address Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (NAS RA) Yuri Shoukourian noted that NAS RA pays considerable attention to the promotion of more active participation of its research institutes in EU programs as well as the development of closer cooperation with Diaspora scholars. He also singled out the International S&T Programmes Department of NAS RA which was established with main objective to support participation of NAS RA’s institutions in EU programmes through consultations, awareness raising and other targeted activities, as well as the Diaspora Department which was established to develop and deepen cooperation particularly with Diaspora scientists.

The Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Armenia Mr. Hoa-Binh Ajemian welcomed the participants of the workshop and highlighted the importance of Armenia-EU cooperation, particularly, the role of Diaspora in enhancing investments and research cooperation.

All in all, 11 presentations were made during the workshop, covering the H2020 ICT Work Programme and calls for 2018-2020, new opportunities for Armenian organisations as a result of association to the Horizon 2020, in particular the Widening Participation Instruments, experience of participation of Armenian research teams in Horizon 2020, as well as very interesting innovative projects and activities presented by invited Diaspora scientists from various EU countries.

Mari-Skłodowska Curie Actions, H2020 SME Instrument as well as activities and services provided by Enterprise Europe Network in Armenia also formed a part of the workshop agenda.

The event was widely highlighted by all major TV and media agencies of Armenia: 

https://armeniatv.am/hy/63620-63620

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkT6xPqDPDM

http://www.slaq.am/arm/news/1202919/