TechnoParks Will be Introduced

Nino Baramidze

Government of Georgia will debate a draft law under the support of the Minister of Education and Science in the nearest future, the draft law refers to launching innovative technoparks on the bases of the Technical University. Research institutes will be involved in the project. This techno parks will cover practically 80% of the existing directions at the Technical University that means automatic development of the country’s economy and employment of approximately 10, 000 students. With their own income, student will be able to earn more than their study fees and at the same time do practical work. Together with launching Techno parks tenth of factories will start operating. And the output will be used not only at the internal market but will be exported outside the country. Many countries are the consumers of Georgian products, among them is Japan!

First technopark was created in the USA in 1950^th. Nowadays there are three standard models approved throughout the world. Though, regarding Georgian reality new and different forth model of the technopark has been created that will start operation on the Technical University bases. The draft law is under process of discussion and the Ministry of Education and Science considers that the Georgian government will approve it.

It is widely known that professors and scientists of the Technical University have done a lot of work of the technical character on the international market. Unfortunately these works remain at the level of paper and laboratory samples or are provided to foreigners according to the order and the production is made there on the bases of the work. Hence, if Georgia sells its research lets say for 1Gel , this research at the level of industrial production is sold for 100Gel abroad. This means the  proportion is one to hundred. But if the draft law passes, products will be issued in Georgia, existing installation gives this opportunity – new technoparks will be created where works from scientific research to production will be conducted. Georgian techno parks envisage number of cycles – learning and scientific process, creation of laboratory samples, trial sample and industrial production.

According to the experts no one can implement this project better then the Georgian professors.

As a result not only the internal market will be provided but also products for export will be created. And the scientific knowledge of Georgia will be valued abroad.

One of the key points is that the student of the Technical University will be employed at Technoparks and they will have opportunity not only to have practice but also will be provided with working places.

Nodar Surguladze, Deputy Minister of Education and Science: “Considering the fact that educational process requires payment, a lot of students have to take a credit. In case of employment they will earn more then their fees. For them technoparks will be knowledge plus practice. Besides they can start work at the same time with their studies from the first year.

Another point is also important, as it is known apart from the idea, inventor needs marketing research, business plan, legal service and money. Though technical university will provide all above mentioned to the students and young researchers, all they have to think about is new idea. More important is that employed students will be able to learn technology and industrial process on the place, make sure that their knowledge can be realized.” 

Technoparks will be allocated in different parts of Georgia. Technical university has more than hundred projects to be realized. At this level they are ready to implement 10 projects, the laboratory samples of which guarantee positive results. For example, production of gas compressors is available, that can compete with the American version and has better quality and costs cheaper than the Chinese one. The market of this product is wide not only in Georgia but also outside the country. Issuing of skids is also possible, eight parameters of which is better than the one issued by “Mercedes”.

Implementation of the project in the direction of power and biotechnology is also planned. Stimulators without any chemical damages have been created for agriculture that gives opportunity for increasing harvest.

Technoparks will be created on the bases of the Technical University, though considering the fact that according to the government decision, integration of research institutes and Higher institutes was done, this issue becomes more important. Those research institutes that operate under the Technical University take part in the implementation of this idea and it is mutually profitable. The thing is that in most of the cases research institutes are at such level that the implementation of their works is available. And that will be the main source of income not only for technical University but also for the country’s economy that means this will be economy of knowledge – knowledge realized in real products.

By the initiative of the Minister of Education and Science, the draft law concerning technoparks will be discussed together with project presentation in the nearest future. In case of approval, works in different directions will begin simultaneously.