During the past few months, the "Gituzh" initiative has concluded professional discussions with relevant ministries of RA, the Science Committee, the RA National Academy of Sciences, rectors or vice-rectors of several state universities, as well as directors of scientific institutes, and heads of scientific groups, comprising both young and older generation scientists.

The primary focus of these closed professional discussions was the future of scientific institutes, reforms in the National Academy of Sciences, and the academic city project.

We would like to emphasize that we are now concluding this round of professional closed discussions and will soon commence a round of wide-scale open discussions, involving the science community and all interested parties, both in Armenia and in the Diaspora.

At the same time, it is crucial to highlight that the RA MօESCS (Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports) has largely ignored the appeals made by the Gituzh initiative concerning the status of scientific institutes. Additionally, they have disregarded the verbal agreement that was reached during our meeting.

In particular, the invitation for presenting conceptual recommendations to state universities and scientific research organizations states: "From 2027, state funding and support will be provided only to merged universities and scientific organizations united with them'': https://escs.am/am/news/17438

Does this mean that the RA MօESCS has decided behind closed doors that the Republic of Armenia no longer needs state research institutes independent of universities?

The Gituzh Initiative considers this decision utterly unacceptable.

Shortly, the "Gituzh" initiative will address these issues in more detail.