Nunu Mitskevichi, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia held an online news conference with scientists and representatives of the medical field regarding COVID-19 and informed them about the 2^nd special competition announced within the framework of Horizon 2020 program. The issue of creating a national scientific platform on COVID-19 was also discussed at the meeting.

Nunu Mitskevichi stated, the situation created by the new coronavirus pandemic in the world has made the importance of science and innovation even more so relevant. In this regard, the European Commission has mobilized 122 million euros in financial resources, which will be directly used to study the ways to overcome the pandemic through scientific research and innovative solutions. Consequently, the European Commission has announced the 2^nd special competition related to COVID-19 within the scope of the Horizon 2020 program. According to the Deputy Minister, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, will act as the coordinator of the Horizon 2020 program, and will continue to contribute to the participation of Georgian representatives in the above-mentioned unique competitions.

Furthermore, the deputy Minister once again emphasized the fact that Georgia is one of the most successful examples of dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic. The continuous involvement of European representatives of science and healthcare, will further impact Georgia’s work in addressing the issues of diagnosing the virus, providing necessary treatments, and developing relevant vaccines.

Natia Gabitashvili, coordinator of the Horizon 2020 program in Georgia, together Maia Rukhadze, a national representative of Innovative Medicine, and National Health, held various informative presentations on the announced competition.

The sides also discussed the creation of a national scientific platform on COVID-19.

More information about the 2^nd special competition regarding COVID-19 can be accessed by clicking on the following links:

-         http://mes.gov.ge/s/Uw6q2

-         http://mes.gov.ge/s/bcayM

On May 26, a video conference organized by the European Commission on Research and Innovation, attended by Deputy Minister Nunu Mitskevichi, discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the best scientific groups between the EU and the Horizon 2020 program, as well as a national scientific platform at the local level.