On February 9, the National Assembly debated the draft law on Ratifying the Agreement on the Participation of the Republic of Armenia in the EU’s “Horizon Europe” Framework Programme for Research and Innovation between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union, which was presented by the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Artur Martirosyan.
The “Horizon Europe” Framework Programme for Research and Innovation which is envisaged for 2021-2027 is the continuation of the “Horizon-2020” Framework Programme implementing in 2014-2020. The participation of Armenia in the programme started in 2016 with the signing of the Agreement between the RA and the EU on the Participation of the Republic of Armenia in the “Horizon-2020,” EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020).
The “Horizon-2020” programme made a great contribution to the development of the scientific field of Armenia and gave many opportunities to the representatives of the field to participate in various grant initiatives. The success rate of the participation of Armenia among associated countries of the “Horizon-2020” programme was 11.81%: 312 applications were submitted with the participation of the Armenian scientific groups within the framework of the programme, out of which 271 were recognized valid, and 35 applications for funding were guaranteed.
According to the agreement, the representatives of the scientific circles of Armenia have the right to use from wide opportunities provided by the EU biggest scientific cooperation programme with a total budget of 95.5 bln EUR.
It is expected that the participation in the programme will be an additional impetus for the development of the Armenian national research system, will promote the further integration of the Armenian scientists in the European scientific area, will expand the opportunities to make use of the scientific infrastructure of the EU countries.
The NA Standing Committee on European Integration endorsed the agreement. The co-rapporteur Meri Galstyan urged her colleagues to vote for the draft. The Parliament adopted the draft law.
