International Center for Advancement of Research, Technology and Innovation
The International Center for Advancement of Research, Technology and Innovation (ICARTI) was established in 2008 as nongovernmental not-for-profit organization. ICARTI is a European Commission National Contact Point organization of H2020 for Information and Communication Technologies and Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions.
Organisation
ICARTI cooperates with a number of entities for support of science and technology development in EU countries (Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Italy, France. etc. - about 40 organizations) and in ENP countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine).
The main objectives of the organization are the following: to facilitate international cooperation of Georgian research and technology organizations and groups of researchers with their foreign partners and assist the integration of Georgia in ERA and international S&T networks; to bridge the gaps between research and industry, support innovation and research commercialization processes, etc.
Activities of ICARTI include: (i) Assistance in introduction of best European and international practices in S&T policy and management system; (ii) Facilitation of information exchange between S&T stakeholders; (iii) Offering to foreign SMEs and companies Georgian technologies, know-how and support technology transfer process; (iv) Mediation services for representatives of S&T and industry; organization of international workshops and brokerage events, partner searches; (v) Consultation service for local S&T community about H2020 objectives, activities and funding schemes.
From 2008 ICARTI and its experts were involved in implementation of diverse type international projects with main focus on S&T development, networking, capacity building and awareness raising. Particularly in several EC funded projects, INCO projects, STCU projects, Black Sea cooperation projects, etc. In the frame of Eastern Partnership Program (EaP) ICARTI is involved in the Civil Society Forum of the Georgian National Platform.
As an innovation and technology transfer expert and part of the NCP network, ICARTI brings in the project already established links with relevant regional and pan-European STI stakeholders and national authorities in the target geographic region, most importantly in Georgia.
ICARTI contributes to the project through the following core competences:
The Head of ICARTI and the experts of the organization have close cooperation with all main Georgian universities and scientific organizations, with Georgian National Academy of Sciences, Rustaveli National Foundation, GITA, EaP National Civil Society Platform in Georgia (economic group) etc.; ICARTI can conduct trainings of local stakeholders; organize brokerage events; make dissemination of information, etc.
ICARTI is EC H2020 NCP organization in ICT and Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions. Organization was the participant of several EC funded projects (in ICT, renewable energy, others). ICARTI was involved in several projects of the Department of NAVY (Office of Naval Global Research in UK); head of ICARTI G.Kochoradze was a participant of almost all EC funded IDEALIST projects from 1999. Considering the mentioned experience ICARTI can be involved in several tasks of the project.
In detail, based on its capacity, ICARTI is going to contribute in the following tasks:
1) In WP2, in the organization of H2020 Info Days and of a local NCPs training.
2) In WP3, in boosting clusters in EaP (review, grant scheme, workshop, comprehensive report) and in promoting the ETPs concept in EaP.
3) In WP5, in the content management and the communities of practice.