Armenian companies are indifferent towards innovations, announced NAS President

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian companies are practically indifferent towards introduction of innovation in production, President of National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Radik Martirosyan stated today.

Mediamax reports that speaking at NAS general annual meeting, Radik Martirosyan said, within the last 3 years NAS received no offer from Armenian companies (besides Yerevan Jewelry Plant) on introducing scientific developments in business.

Radik Martirosyan stated that in order to stimulate business investments in scientific research, it is necessary to grant tax and other privileges to investors, as well as to use scientific developments by governmental establishments that can stimulate their promotion in the market.

"It is necessary to facilitate mechanisms in order scientific establishments could receive investments to develop technological innovations, as at present, investments, directed at the sphere, are first of all placed in banks, which make impossible claims for issuing loans for scientific establishments", said NAS President.

He informed that in 2009, NAS managed to provide over 20% of financing (about 1,3bln AMD) on the account of its own income. 70% of budget financing of science was spent on wages payment, the average volume of which increased by 11,6% during last year and made 57,5 thousand AMD (less than $150). The number of NAS employees decreased by 22 people in 2009 and now makes 3788.

"0.3 published article falls on one scientific employee in Armenia annually, meanwhile, 0,55 published articles falls on EU employee on average. At that, on average, the financing of one European scientist’s development makes €200 000 annually, Armenian scientist`s financing makes less than €2000. Thus, according to the number of publications, average Armenian scientist yields to European twice, and according to financing, over 100 times", said Radik Martirosyan.