R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

From Research to Industry and MarketsFrom Research to Industry and MarketsPresentation at Knowledge Economy Forum IIIPresentation at Knowledge Economy Forum III

Arriving at New Technological Solutions in ArmeniaArriving at New Technological Solutions in Armenia

Presented by:

Gagik VardanyanGagik Vardanyan, PhD, Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development, E-mail: gvardanyan@minted.am

Hakob HakobyanHakob Hakobyan, MA, Project Director, E-Armenia Foundation /Armenia Development GatewayE-mail: hhakobyan@gateway.am

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Transition to market economy;Economic independence;Macroeconomic stability;Economic development;Privatization of the land and enterprises;Liberalization of the international trade.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

OverviewOverview

Development of the fifth technological state including mega-technologies such as information technologies, biotechnologies.

Development of new technologies and scientific applications in Armenia by more than 100 academic, state research institutions and universities.

The integration of new technologies and innovations in the economy, especially in such fields as agriculture, health and ecology.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

2003 Macroeconomic 2003 Macroeconomic OverviewOverview

GDP stable growth (13.9%)

Export growth (34.2%)

Industrial output growth (14.9%)

Inflation (8.6 %)

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

GDP Growth Dynamics (%)

GDP Growth Dynamics (%)

0

5

10

15

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Background

1980s as a start of investigations for the development of new technologies in several fields in Armenia.

Development of new technologies in the field of biomedicine by Yerevan State University.

Preparation of national strategy and action plan for the development of high-technologies.

Formation of small enthusiastic professional team for the creation of new preparations and their testing.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Rationale Transition to the market economy created new

needs for using new technologies. Privatization in all fields of economy. Local and International support to develop new

technologies since 1990s. Emerging of new problems for the new farmers –

plant diseases. Use of the traditional chemical disinfectants are

not effective against these diseases. The development and testing of new

preparations for plant diseases become very urgent.

Need of new preparations and modern methods for treatment of oncological diseases.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Demand and Market Land diseases are very widespread and cannot be

bypassed . Regular needs for land restoration and plant

diseases. Integration of new preparations (porphyrins) is

more efficient than the traditional technologies (chemicals, etc.).

Local and international customers as Potential markets for new preparation (porphyrin) production.

The main land user groups like the Government, agricultural companies and individual farmers (agribusiness sector) as local customers.

The main customers outside Armenia will be the Agribusiness community.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Partnership Development

Integration of about 100 highly qualified specialists from the following fields (Molecular Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Agriculture, Biomedicine).Yerevan State University;Yerevan State Medical University;Institute of Biotechnology;Yerevan Physics Institute;Institute of Zoology of NAS;Armenian Agriculture Academy;Pharmagene Co. Ltd.;Research Center of Molecular Structure of

NAS.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Partnership Development (Cont.)

Establishment of informal partnership (professional team) at the local level.

Coordination of implemented scientific researches. More than 30 local and international Grant awards. Partnership with the following international

institutions: University of Illinois, Chicago, USA; National Institute of Child Health and Development,

Bethesda, USA; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA; Boston University, USA; National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; University of Toronto, Canada; University of Florence, Italy.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Objectives

Main purpose of these projects is creation of new technologies and application of these innovations to increase competitiveness and promote economic growth.

Objectives:Application of new preparations for the plant

diseases and growth of the agriculture product

Application of new anticancer preparations and modern methods in the Biomedicine

Application of new preparations in the field of Biotechnology (against Bioterrorism, etc.)

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Challenges

To coordinate investigation and research conducted by research teams;

To develop and test new preparations to be used simultaneously in agriculture and health.

To produce new preparations based on the results;

To develop modern methods for the effective action of these preparations in plants and organisms.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Activities

Synthesis of new photosensitizers (porphyrins and metal porphyrins);

Testing of new photosensitizers against root rot of wheat, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, etc;

Optimization of photosensitizers’ application parameters and selection of the most effective preparations.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

New Preparation Characteristics

Acting in very small concentrations (1g/1m3 water);

Selectively attacking cancer cells or microorganisms;

They are not accumulated in human organisms or in plants

They are eliminated quickly;

Nontoxic for human organisms.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Results

Synthesis of more than 60 new porphyrins and their metal complexes;

Identification of new porphyrins possessing high anticancer, antifungal and antibacterial activity;

Identification of new porphyrins against some fungal diseases (root rot, black stem, bacterial cancer) existed in the plants;

Testing of new preparations in the agricultural field using green houses and plants.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Examples

About 30% of such agricultural products as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers are supposed to be damaged due to fungi (see pictures 1 and 2);

High efficiency of the affect of new preparations on fungi is obvious (see pictures 1 and 2).

The following are some examples showing the effect of new preparations on microorganisms:

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Research Activities

Study of approaches and methods of the new water-soluble porphyrin synthesis allowing to obtain more than 150 new porphyrins and their metal complexes.

Study for the development of the mechanism on using new porphyrins and metal complexes and development of the modern methods (photodynamic therapy of tumors) in the Biomedicine for the cancer treatment at molecular, cellular and organisms levels.

Study of the new porphyrin for treatment of fungal diseases for agriculture (green house and plants) and developing disinfectants against Bioterrorism (including specially dangerous infections: cholera, plague, tularemia).

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Current Activities

Establishment of the National Technology Center for coordination of the above mentioned studies;

Development of Industry-University relations attracting foreign direct investment;

Production and wide application of tested new preparations;

Conducting of the training programs on how the new preparations to be used;

Raising of awareness; Integration of more partners from both local and

international level; Distribution of the production and engineering of

new technologies in the country, regional levels.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Lessons Learned

Preparation of national strategy and action plan for the development of high technologies.

The management and coordination of the teams in implementing of different projects in the field of high technologies.

Government support and for the implementation of these projects.

Integration of the partners not only from the Academic sector, but also from private, civil society sectors.

R

epu

blic

of

Arm

enia

Rep

ubl

ic o

f A

rmen

ia

Thank You