Tuesday, December 26 2023 13:49

ArmInfo. For the first time since last year Armenia has registered an increase in the number of people who have started to engage in scientific activity, Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan said in an interview with Public Television.

She noted that after the Soviet period, the number of scientists in our country was rapidly declining.  However, according to the results of the past year, according to the minister, positive dynamics are already noticeable. In particular, about 300 new scientists were registered in 2022.

At the same time, according to Andreasyan, the growth is due not only to an increase in wages in the industry, but also to the implementation by the department of programs that allow scientists to establish international cooperation and acquire the equipment necessary for research.

As the minister noted, it is the indicators that speak of significant progress in the industry. In this regard, she noted that domestic scientific organizations are today achieving great success in the framework of international grant competitions. "We were able to attract more funds through these channels than before, which suggests that our scientists are more competitive and can already coordinate scientific programs together with European partners," the minister said.

During budget hearings in November of this year, Zhanna Andreasyan reported that in 2024 the salaries of scientific workers in Armenia will increase significantly. The growth compared to 2021 will average 78%.  The salary of a leading researcher will increase by 67% (compared to 2021), amounting to 420 thousand drams from January 1, 2024 (against 114.3 thousand drams), a chief researcher - 500 thousand drams (against 138.1 thousand drams). For the first time, salaries for scientists in Armenia were increased in January 2022.  For 2023 the state allocated 36.2 billion drams for the development of science, which is 2.5 times higher than in 2018. In 2024, the volume of government funding will amount to 37.4 billion drams.