"I call on Mr. Prime Minister to register on the Facebook page of the "Gituzh" initiative and follow what materials are distributed there and what announcements are posted," Tigran Shahve, a member of the "Gituzh" initiative, said in a conversation with NEWS.am Tech. Dyan, commenting on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's speech on science funding at the government session on October 15. "Every time there was an increase in funding, we talked about it, and not once, but many times, and we welcomed it," he said, referring to the Prime Minister's accusations that the scientific community and the media did not say anything about the fact that in 2018 Science funding has tripled since then. According to Tigran Shahverdyan, it is unclear why the Prime Minister is surprised that the draft budget for 2027 caused anger, because the Prime Minister himself reaffirmed the government's commitment to implement the strategic plan. � the program by which it is planned to increase the financing of science to 0.75 percent of the GDP by 2030. "And we welcome it, but a simple question arises. if you adopted that program by the government's decision at the beginning of the year, then how come your own government sends a draft budget to the National Assembly that does not reflect that program? "It does not include the means by which that strategic plan will be implemented," he said. According to Tigran Shahverdyan, in 2027, the science budget should increase by 12-21 billion drams, and according to the accepted project, this increase is only 1.5 billion. "Why do we say interval, because with open, known data it is not possible to understand which measures continue the previous programs and which are additional new programs?" In other words, we should have seen an increase of at least 12 billion. But what we see is unacceptable. We want to understand how to work with a partner who takes a documented decision, approves a government program, and then does not want the means to implement that program from the National Assembly," he said. According to him, in the case of such an approach, for example, the leading research support program, in the implementation of which the "Gituzh" initiative also played a role, and which was actively discussed by members of the government before its introduction, is endangered. �, including with the Prime Minister himself. "It was very welcome, and at the meeting at the end of last year, we told the Prime Minister that we were able to ensure this progress by working together," he said, adding that the leading research support program is the strongest competition in Armenia today. It is one of these scientific programs, the prototype of which is a similar five-year grant of the European Research Council. This year, the five-year phase of that grant has ended, but the holding of a new competition with next year's budget is under question. "And I'm not talking about the new programs and measures that are written in the government's program, or those programs that end next year and must be continued. Where is that serious state approach? The prime minister's indignation is incomprehensible. Well, it's your government's plan, we didn't present it. It is your government's plan and your government's budget project. "Why don't they match?" he said. Tigran Shahverdyan added that the "Gituzh" initiative expects a meeting and discussion on this issue in the National Assembly, preferably with the participation of representatives of the government and the scientific community, in order to thoroughly discuss what Has the government presented such a budget project? "That is the normal work, we strive for it, we are ready to work together. The sad thing is that more often another mechanism works. some things are discussed behind closed doors, then the community and society are confronted with the facts. Then we have to react, express dissatisfaction, and then they themselves express dissatisfaction. Let's say, wasn't it obvious that there will be a reaction to that budget project? I want to understand: who thought that it would go unnoticed? Maybe you could meet with us beforehand? maybe there really is some reason or explanation that we don't know," he said. Referring to the explanations that the budget is not exhausted and it should be fairly distributed among all sectors, Tigran Shahverdyan noted that it is only about one percent of the budget. That's how much science funding is now. And if we are talking about a 30 percent increase, it would make up only 1.3 percent of the budget. And science and technology, according to him, are the fields "that will allow us to earn even more money in the future, to solve our problems in more effective ways, that is, to save money." He added that sometimes from the words of government members or deputies, one gets the impression that science funding is some kind of charity, with which they solve a social problem, and people should thank them. They are. "This is a simple, perhaps the most capitalist exchange. You, as representatives of the state, build problem-solving capabilities for the state, and this is interconnected with all areas: both the problems of state departments, and education, and human capital development. That money is invested so that Armenia is more powerful, Armenia is able to solve problems. If you're doing it as a favor, don't waste taxpayers' money. If you don't understand that this is an investment in the future and the strengthening of the state, then you are working in the wrong place," he remarked. Tigran Shahverdyan recalled the meeting with the Prime Minister in November last year, during which the representatives of "Gituzh" spoke about the lack of certain institutional capacities in Armenia, and Nikol Pashinyan accepted this. As a result of the discussion, it was decided that research should be conducted to find ways to solve this problem. "We cooperated very actively, we invested resources in order to develop the technical task of that research. It was ready at the end of May. After that, the case stands. If you attach so much importance to the creation of a knowledge-based economy, the development of Armenia's capacities, you admit that there is a gap in institutional capacities on the part of the state, why is this case standing?'' he asked. Referring to the decision to allocate an additional 2.4 billion drams to science for 2026, taken at yesterday's session of the government, Tigran Shahverdyan noted that at the beginning of the year, there was talk of an additional 7.4 billion drams. He reminded that one more billion was allocated to science during the year, that is, the government allocated 3.4 billion drams instead of 7.4 billion drams during the year. And 1.5 out of 2.4 billion drams allocated yesterday is intended for buying equipment. "According to our information, there are already results of tenders for the purchase of equipment worth about 4 billion, and it became clear earlier. In other words, only 1.5 of them can be processed now. where is the rest? And why wasn't that money allocated earlier so that the suppliers could bring it to Armenia by the end of the year? say