1. NAS RA AND ITS ROLE IN THE INNOVATION SYSTEM OF ARMENIA TIGRAN ARZUMANYAN International S&T Programs’ Department National Academy of Sciences of Armenia UNECE Team of Specialists Seminar 9 September 2013, Yerevan

2. Research Infrastructure Armenian R&D was core sector of economy having been developed into one of leading RTD centers of the USSR, inherited quite ramified and developed network of R&D and educational institutions represented in academic, university & branch/enterprise sectors Major achievements in: computer science, radiophysics & electronics, geology&seismology, laser techniques&non-linear optics, mathematics, mechanics, astrophysics, biotechnology, chemistry, solid-state physics & semiconductors, etc.

3. Processes during 1990s-early 2000s Disintegration of previous ties Suspension of financial flows to RTD sector Radical change in factors determining RTD supply&demand sides. Actually, the demand side fully disappeared due to collapse of the economy, emergence of political, economic and social problems in entire fSU area, ethnic conflicts in the region and blockade of transportation routes. Catastrophic downsizing of research intensity, especially in industrial/branch sector

4. NAS RA Founded in 1943 the National Academy of Sciences (NAS RA) remains to be main R&D performer in the country. Law on the NAS RA adopted on 14/04/2011 NAS is the highest self-governing research organization carrying out & coordinating basic and applied research directed to creation of knowledge-based economy, contributing to social and cultural development of the country Official scientific consultant to the highest governing bodies

5. NAS RA Structure NAS includes around 35 research institutes & centers and subsidiary services with around 3700 total staff Institutes incorporated in 5 scientific divisions: –Mathematical & Technical Sciences (3) –Physics & Astrophysics (4) –Natural Sciences (11) –Chemistry & Earth Sciences (7) –Armenian Studies & Social Sciences (10)

6. NAS RA Structure (2) Some Institutes have experimental plants, design bureaus NAS includes also Scientific Library, International Scientific&Educational Center, Publishing House Decision on optimization of the NAS structure and creation of scientific&technological/production centers through amalgamation of institutes involved in close research activities (i.e. Center of Biotechnology, Center of Zoology&Hydroecology, Center of Organic & Pharmaceutical Chemistry)

7. NAS RA Funding Stabilization of RTD financing through the following funding mechanisms: –Basic funding (separate line in the budget) – Thematic (project based) funding – Goal oriented project funding –Contractual works –International sources (grants)

8. Activities to Support Innovation Creation of Science Development Foundation in 2007 focusing on: –Supporting research projects with innovative potential; –Supporting commercialization of research outcomes –Supporting infrastructure modernization projects Package of innovative research projects collected and submitted to the government Plans to create technology transfer office to support commercialization & technology transfer (similar structures at the institute’s level ) Cooperation with national innovation support structures (TTA, etc.)

9. International Cooperation Cooperation implemented through: –International Affairs Department –International S&T Programmes Department –Diaspora Department Hosts EU FP7 NCP system Cooperation agreements with AS of Russia, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, Hungary, China, Romania, etc. Institutes maintain wide direct cooperation with foreign research centers

10. International Cooperation (2) 3 Joint Labs with CNRS, Joint labs with Russia Active participation in international grant programmes (EU Framework Programmes, ISTC, NATO Science Programme, etc.) Recent FP7 Projects: BSI, BS-ERA.Net, IncoNet CASC, IncoNet EaP, ENERG2I, etc. Closer cooperation with Diaspora researchers European Enterprise Network as tool to promote international technology transfer (SME DNC)

11. THANK YOU! Tigran Arzumanyan tarznip@sci.am