On 14 April, an agreement between JINR and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA) on cooperation in the fields of fundamental science, information technology, innovation, and education was signed in the Directorate of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. According to the document, the JINR—NAS RA Scientific and Technological Centre (JINR—NAS RA STC) will be established in the Academy of Sciences of Armenia. It will aim to maintain contact between scientists and specialists of the republic’s research institutes with JINR, deepening partnerships in the scientific and technical field, in personnel training, and in popularisation of life sciences. The document was signed by JINR Director, RAS Academician Grigory Trubnikov and President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia Ashot Saghyan.

At the meeting in the JINR directorate, it was recognized that for a long time, Armenian scientists have maintained strong ties with JINR and its Member States, and this partnership is now actively developing. Armenian scientific centres participate in the collaborations of the NICA Megascience Project and in the research of the JINR Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions. “We are enthusiastic about actively developing joint projects and will do everything in our power to uphold and enhance scientific ties and cooperation,” Grigory Trubnikov stressed. JINR Director recalled that this March, an agreement was signed on expanding cooperation between JINR and A.I. Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory.

During the discussion of JINR—NAS RA STC launch and the development of JINR—Armenia cooperation, Ashot Saghyan noted that progress is already being made regarding plans established in the JINR—NAS RA agreement. Academician-Secretary of the Division of the Natural Sciences of NAS RA Ruben Harutyunyan proposed to form a detailed work plan for the next several years. FLNR JINR Scientific Leader, RAS Academician Yuri Oganessian stressed the need to identify specific joint projects as part of the cooperation. During the meeting, the parties agreed to appoint persons on Armenia’s part responsible for joint projects.

The future Scientific and Technological Centre will coordinate joint work of JINR and research organizations within the structure of NAS RA and develop regional international technical cooperation. It will host scientific and educational events, and the centre’s staff will assist in holding JINR scientific competitions and distributing information about the Institute among the partner organizations of the Academy of Sciences, as well as other scientific centres and universities of Armenia. The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, on its part, will provide an opportunity for scientific and scientific and technical staff of research centres and universities of Armenia, including NAS RA graduate students and aspirants, to participate in JINR scientific projects and educational programs.

The main research areas that the JINR—NAS RA STC will coordinate include theoretical and experimental physics; nuclear physics methods in exploratory research; advanced research in the field of chemistry and design of new materials; biological research, including research on the molecular mechanisms of radiobiological effects and modification of track membranes; geophysics and seismology; information technology, including modelling and data processing in the field of astrophysics; joint Master’s and postgraduate programmes.

JINR—NAS RA STC will be located in the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. The Coordinating Council of the JINR—NAS RA STC will be comprised of an equal number of representatives of each side. Its meetings will take place annually.

In JINR, the NAS RA delegation was welcomed by Director of the Joint Institute Grigory Trubnikov, Scientific Leader of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions Yuri Oganesssian, JINR Vice-Directors Vladimir Kekelidze and Sergey Dmitriev, and JINR Director’s Special Representative for Educational Policy Samvel Harutyunyan. During the visit, the guests got acquainted with the JINR scientific infrastructure by visiting the Superheavy Element Factory in the FLNR.