Experts from Russian-Armenian innovation cooperation center approve 15 projects

YEREVAN, January 21, /ARKA/. Experts from the Russian-Armenian Innovation Cooperation Center have carefully examined and approved 15 projects on biochemistry, agriculture, health, fertilizer production and space technology, Viktor Krivopuskov, head of the Federal Russian Sotrudnichestvo (Russian Partnership) agency in Armenia, told ARKA. Mr. Krivopuskov serves also as an advisor to Russian embassy here.

Speaking at a news conference today he said this is so far a unique example of cooperation between Russia and a former Soviet constituent republic. According to him, all 15 projects are finished sci-techncial products and according to their authors are ready to be given a go-ahead

He said all projects submitted to the Center undergo an expertise assessment and only those which can be commercialized are selected for further promotion. Mr. Krivopuskov declined to divulge the financial aspect of these projects, saying they were still being considered.

He said also Armenia will host in the first half of this year a set of events and meetings that will look into prospects for broadening cooperation between Armenian and Russian provinces.

On Thursday the Russian Sotrudnichestvo and Armenian ministry of economy signed a memorandum on the opening of the Russian-Armenian Innovation Cooperation Center. The goal is to promote economic cooperation, strengthen and expand the innovative component of the Russian-Armenian partnership. The Center is founded in cooperation with the Armenian ministry of economy, State Science Committee, the National Academy of Sciences with the assistance of the Russian ministry of education and science, Russian Nano-Technology Center, the United Dubna Nuclear Research Institute in Russia, the CIS Executive Committee and the CIS Innovation Center. -0-