PRESS RELEASE
December 13, 2004

National Academies Press Publishes an Assessment of S&T Sector in Armenia

The National Academies Press in Washington, DC has just published a report assessing Armenia’s scientific potential, entitled “Science and Technology in Armenia: Toward A Knowledge-Based Economy.” The report was prepared by the ad-hoc Committee on Science and Technology in Armenia, functioning under the auspices of National Academies’ National Research Council, following the Committee’s fact-finding mission to Armenia in February 2004. The Committee members have visited and met with representatives of Armenian government agencies, National Academy of Sciences and scientific research institutions, major Armenian universities, private Science and Technology (S&T) companies, and NGO’s.

The fact-finding mission and the assessment of Armenia’s S&T potential was commissioned by the U.S. State Department and financed by U.S. Agency for International Development to gauge the existing capacity of research institutions and higher education capabilities and trends, and to identify sectors to be support by public expenditure and investors, as well as by development assistance from foreign donors, including U.S. Government. The report will be presented to U.S.-Armenia Task Force on Economic Issues.

The main findings of the report by the National Research Council’s Committee on S&T in Armenia note the long tradition of excellence in science, technology and education and the positive legacy of a developed network of research and higher education institutions. At the same time, the economic transition and subsequent reduction of government funding have considerably eroded the existing S&T capabilities, although many Armenian institutions persevered and achieved significant results, such as maintaining the Byurakan Observatory’s international status as center for optical astronomy; development of a vibrant information technology sector; and some modernization of the agricultural sector leading to increased exports. The report makes a number of specific and valuable recommendations to address the problems and to build upon the many success stories in Armenia’s S&T sector, including creation of centers of excellence, continued modernization of institutions of higher learning, and strengthening the intellectual property rights system.

As Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian noted, “this report should be of particular interest to the Armenian-American community, especially private investors seeking to make profit in promising science and technology sectors and researchers looking for international collaboration in Armenia.” Dr. Kirakossian perspectives on future of science in Armenia, made during remarks at a meeting with NRC Committee members, are included in an appendix of the report.

“Science and Technology in Armenia: Toward A Knowledge-Based Economy,” can be obtained from the National Academies Press. Please visit http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11107.html for information on the book.