The Hi-Tech Park and Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency Signed a Cooperation Agreement

28 April 2014

Cooperation Agreement between the HTP and Georgia`s Innovation and Technology Agency regarding the development of business relations in the IT sphere, joint development of information technologies, improvement of professional education and training for IT specialists was signed on April 16 during the visit of a delegation from Georgia to Minsk. The delegation was headed by Irakli Kashibadze, the Chairman of Georgia`s Innovation and Technology Agency.

Irakli Kashibadze: «The objective ofGeorgia`s Innovation and Technology Agencyis to develop innovation ecosystem in Georgia. In this regard, the Belarusian experience is of great interest to us. We had meetings with leaders in this sphere and discussed an opportunity of implementing joint projects and sharing experience. The present-day business is based on cooperation. Georgia has advantages in this respect – the business environment that can facilitate effective joint entry into international markets. The advantage of Belarus is a continuous improvement of the system. It is impossible to achieve global business agreements in a short time, but we are interested in bilateral cooperation and will develop it together».

Belarus and Georgia are intended to exchange information on innovative projects and scientific developments, trends in the IT sphere, software products and services markets. The agreement provides for sharing experience in developing the IT sphere, cooperation in development and promotion of professional education for IT specialists, dissemination of advanced practices to support IT startups, activities of training centers and business incubators. The agreement also envisages organization and participation in innovation activities of the parties (conferences, exhibitions and seminars).

As the head ofGeorgia`s Innovation and Technology Agencyemphasized, Georgia and Belarus have similar problems in the IT sphere today. Training for specialists is one of the most urgent issues. The parties agreed to work jointly on standardization and education. The delegation from Georgia visited joint laboratories of the HTP resident-companies and the leading Belarusian universities. «The visit to the laboratories prompted our plans for further development of applied education in Georgia. Now we want to develop such laboratories, too»,noted Irakli Kashibadze.

Note:

Established by the Georgian government in February 2014, the Innovation and Technology Agency is aimed at developing innovation ecosystem in Georgia, encouraging the use of innovation and technology in different sectors, promoting commercialization of innovation entrepreneurship, inventions and research. Its particular focus is on creation of an IT export industry, development of technology companies and innovative startups and the efficient use of innovations and technologies.