Linear accelerator to ensure rapid progress in life sciences

The agreement on constructing linear accelerators in Armenia is a key achievement of the country's 2011 scientific development plan, according to Samvel Harutyunyan, the head of the Education Ministry's State Committee on Science.

At a news conference on Monday, Harutyunyan said the project is already underway, with equipment worth €3 million having been already imported from Germany.

The construction is expected to finish in 2013, while accelerator rings are due to be completed in 2016. The Government has also  allocated resources for the construction of second-generation linear accelerators which will cost a total of €60 million.

"I am hopeful the construction of those accelerators will ensure rapid progress, especially in life sciences," Harutyunyan said.

Harutyunyan noted that 2011 was a fruitful year for scientific cooperation, as Armenia managed to sign over 20 agreements with Russia, France , Belarus, Germany and Italy, and is expected to conclude new agreements with Switzerland and Ukraine.

He said further that two Armenian-French scientific laboratories opened as a result of a joint contest with the French National Center for Scientific Research, and a regional program for Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan is now underway.