1. CRDF Global/GRDF Programmatic Activity to Promote Knowledge Based Economy in Georgia
Georgian Research & Development Foundation (GRDF)
Technology Commercialization and Innovation Conference
29 – 31 March, 2017

2. Georgian Research & Development Foundation (GRDF)
Non-government, non-profit foundation since 2001, promoting international scientific and technical collaboration.
Major goals of GRDF:
Support of R&D potential in Georgia;
Support of young researchers and scientists;
Development and strengthening of international scientific collaboration;
Involvement of former weapon scientists into civilian research;
Contribution to development of knowledge based Economy.
The U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF) is a private, non-profit foundation authorized by Congress in 1992 and established by the U.S. National Science Foundation in In its original authorization, CRDF was to be an endowed foundation established to address issues related to scientists – of all kinds – following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The endowment from Congress never took place, but CRDF has survived through annual funding from a variety of sources and strong partnerships.
CRDF was established to
Provide alternatives to emigration – to help create jobs and opportunity for scientists in Russia, so that they would not need to leave Russia in order to survive
Advance defense conversion – to help create jobs and opportunity for scientists in civilian pursuits, rather than military
CRDF was to do this by
Assisting Russia to establish a market economy – not just any market economy, but an economy that could engage scientists in civilian pursuits and would enable them to see opportunity at home
And, last, but not least, CRDF was to provide opportunity for the United States, too – by providing access to
Sophisticated new technologies
World-class scientists and engineers and
New markets and new opportunities

3. GRDF Funding priorities
Support of competitively capable scientific R & D;
Support of young scientists and engineers;
Development of research potential within universities;
Support of business oriented scientists (STEP);

4. GRDF Programs
International Project Management
Peer-review competitions and Grant administration
Organizing of conferences, trainings, workshops
Support Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Granted over $19 million throughout over 200 projects since inception, engaging more than 750 Georgian researchers

5. Development of Research Potential within Universities, Integration Research into Education programs
Georgian Centers of Research and Education (CoRE) Program
- Established at Ilia State University
- Exploring Biodiversity of Caucasus
Center for Pathogen Research and Education (CPRE)
- Study of molecular characteristics of pathogens in Georgia
- Integration pathogen study into the education system

6. Foster Development of Knowledge-based Economy STEP Program
Local Institutions
Train Entrepreneurs Build Community
Science
Business
Commercial Opportunity
Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Program
Catalyzing
Local Development
through
Local Innovation

7. Foster Development of Knowledge-based Economy
Business Partnership Grant Program (BPG)
Program conducted eight times
Significant co-funding from Shota Rustaveli National Science foundation
At least 15% company cash contribution was mandatory
In total 50 innovative projects funded

8. Foster Development of Knowledge-based Economy
BPG program - General results:
140 business oriented scientists and 70 companies participated
50 Science & Business contacts set
Up to 40 innovative technologies were tested (including prototyping)
About 20 innovative products were presented to the market
4 technology based start-up companies were created
Science teams and partner companies/technology based start-up companies received profit up to GEL
About 30 patent applications (Georgian national and PCT) were filed Licensing processes for 4-5 technologies are under negotiation

9. “Peer Review and Sustainable Science for Georgia”
Program start date – August, 2011
Funding from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (U.S. DTRA)
Series of Grant competitions and intensive trainings
Involving scientists from Georgian Universities and Research Institutions

10. Program objective – further DTRA’s effort to reduce risk of biological weapons proliferation and enhance biosafety and security by:
Improving outreach to younger scientists and the university community
Strengthening regional collaboration
Building ties with a broader range of institutions and scientists
Expanding the range of research funded
Promoting the integration of research into universities
Improving the professional skills of Georgian researchers
Enhancing capabilities and opportunities for technology commercialization

11. Technology commercialization under the DTRA program
Technology Commercialization Offices (TCO) Grant program
Business Partnership Grant Program (BPG)
Technology Commercialization Training

12. Technology Commercialization Office (TCO) grant program
Two Technology Commercialization Offices (TCO) established in Tbilisi
TCO mission - helping to lead institutions towards technology commercialization and encourage science to business linkages
U.S. mentorship for the TCO teams
Intensive educational activity with Georgian scientific community on commercialization efforts
Competitions to identify market oriented technologies

13. Business Partnership Grant Program (BPG)
Program goal: Support Georgian scientist to assess the market value of their innovation and commercialization of their products
5 grants awarded to Georgian scientific teams
U.S. mentorship to each team
Innovative products developed under all 5 projects were presented to the local Market
Local patent applications for the developed products are being filed
One technology was filed at USPTO for the U.S. patent

14. Technology Commercialization Workshop
Conducted in April 2015
Targeted sector – BPG program applicant teams (25 scientists)
U.S. based Commercialization experts provided training
Training topics: Business Skills Development, Technology Commercialization, Intellectual Property, etc

15. Thank you for your attention!
Nikoloz Burdiashvili
Program Manager
7, Mindeli str Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel:
web: