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Strategy
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Strategic Plan of the Science Development Foundation (SDF)
Create a high quality and regularly updated Internet site of the Foundation, publish booklets presenting the objectives and mission of the Foundation. Undertake extensive dissemination of that information in the country and abroad.
The issues incorporated in the Strategic Plan may be divided into two groups.
Group I: Financial Support to Scientific and Scientific Technological Projects
The Foundation’s main area of activity is reflected in Article II of the Charter. Naturally, the main function is captured under Article 1 which says: to support the implementation of scientific research activities by funding the most important scientific and scientific technological projects addressing the main priorities. In this regard the Foundation will cooperate with the departments of the National Academy of Sciences.
Select from the large number of projects offered by researchers those that are in the first place possible to commercialize the soonest with the expectation to receive the returns of invested funds. To ensure application of democratic approaches of this selection rule the projects need to undergo expert examination.
At present, projects do not undergo expert examination in the country. To establish one in order to address this gap we need to develop a new system of expert examination involving leading scientists as well as representatives of renown scientific schools of leading scientific centers of the world. In parallel to this process, a databank on the country’s leading scientists needs to be established enabling to select the future experts and arrange training for them based on international experience in the area of expert examination. Training of experts will allow the trainees to familiarize themselves with international experience as well as the Law, legal acts and state standards of the Republic of Armenia and make other information available for them which will help them in their future activities. With time when the local school of expert examination gains shape and strength, the number of foreign experts will be gradually decreased.
In two years time it will be possible to attain stability in this area and have a system of expert examination for the whole specter of science.
Establish ties with international organizations and foundations pursuing two objectives:
a﴿ receive direct grants from them;
b ﴿ establish cooperation with the above-mentioned organizations and partner with them in the implementation of projects.
In particular, taking into consideration the agreement with the “Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research” of the Russian Federation, envisage implementation of 20-25 joint scientific projects in 2008.
• Develop special projects and grants to encourage young researchers to engage in scientific research;
• Establish closer ties with Armenian scientists of the Diaspora, organize conferences and seminars. Create a databank on Armenian scientists.
• Establish cooperation with relevant organizations in the country; develop a list of major scientific issues pertaining to various areas of the country’s economy in order to find their possible solutions within the system of the National Academy of Sciences;
• Support the investment of the products created by scientific organizations;
• Envisage allocation of funding for the solution of urgent Armenological issues;
• Sponsor gifted school and university students to tie them with science. Establish fellowships named after famous and renown persons and benefactors of Armenian descent/nationality.
Group II: Issues Relating to Commercialization and Finding of Funds
• Participate most actively in the implementation of investment, ventures and innovative policies practiced in the country in order to ensure appropriate investment of the Foundation’s resources in these processes.
• Create business plans on the basis of research carried out in the country within the system of the National Academy of Sciences and propose them to the RA Government and interested international structures.
• Pay particular attention to co-academic structures.
One example of that would be:
1. to create scientific centers with unique and expensive equipment which would provide services for scientific research for low prices.
2. to create a common scientific instrument production center for the system of the National Academy of Sciences which will be placed in a mechanical production unit in one of the institutes of the system of the National Academy of Sciences. The Center should be equipped with mechanical, chemical and other technologies required for other areas of research. Such a center might carry out commissions of not only the institutes under the National Academy of Sciences. As present experience shows, such productions today operate quite profitably in the country’s economy.
3. Open an Intellectual Club where the representatives of wider intellectual circles can meet, hold discussions, etc. Study experiences in other countries and based on the study develop the structure and operational approaches of such a club.
4. Carry out publishing activities.
5. Create scientific-educational centers.
6. Organize and carry out TV marathons and charity dinners.
7. To help staff of the system of the National Academy of Sciences maintain good health create a medical centre providing diagnostic and clinical services. Operation of such a center might be profitable if services were to be provided to non-academic circles.
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