YEREVAN (Arka)—At its extraordinary session on Wednesday, Armenia’s National Assembly ratified an agreement signed on May 19, 2016 in Brussels to join the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program.
Levon Mkrtchyan, Armenian education and science minister, said that the agreement is quite innovative and that it opens opportunities for development of Armenian science.
Armenian scientists are expected to submit their first programs for financing this year.
Armenia will also have a 90-percent discount for membership fee and will pay AMD 280 million in 2016, which will allow the country to take a full part in the program and scientists to obtain grants.
Armenian scientists have already received €1.5 million from the European Union in grants in 2015.
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation program ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. The program promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.
Source: Asbarez
Link: Armenia Officially Joins EU’s Horizon 2020 Program