On November 23-25, 2023, the 2nd International Scientific Conference and Seasonal School "Science, Education, Innovations and Chemical Technologies - From Idea to Implementation", organized by R. Agladze Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Electrochemistry and Teaching-Research Scientific Center was held at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
The interdisciplinary conference was devoted to the approximation of chemical and engineering technologies, the integration of innovative technologies and methodologies, and the strengthening of opportunities for the implementation of research results. Topics of the panels: I. Nanoprocesses and nanotechnologies; II. Fundamental and technological aspects of processing of minerals and secondary raw materials; III. Green chemistry; IV. Popularization and commercialization of scientific innovations, V. Energy, with different and diverse expert opinions, proved attractive both to the academic community of natural sciences, humanities and social sciences, as well as to business companies willing to use the power of technology together with scientists to continue the path of excellence towards a knowledge-based economy.
PhD students and young researchers of the humanitarian direction, as well as the Agency for Innovations and Technologies, the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia - "Sakpatenti", representatives of the private sector interested in the implementation of research results participated in the work of the conference and seasonal school together with Georgian scientists. Representatives of leading scientific centers of various countries visited the event: Dr. Stefano Bellucci - Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN); Fred Lisdat (Prof. Dr. habil. Fred Lisdat) - director of the Institute of Researcher of life Sciences and Biomedical Technologies, Wildau Technical University of Applied Sciences; Venko N. Dr. Venko N. Beschkov - Institute of Chemical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Prof. Matteo Gerlini - Department of International and Political Sciences, University of Siena; Prof. Tamaki Nakano - Hokkaido University Institute for Catalysis; Akif Shikhan Aliyev (Prof. Akif Shikhan Aliyev) - head of the Laboratory of Nanoelectrochemistry and Electrocatalysis, Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry named after academician Nagiyev; Dilgam Babir Tagiyev (Acad. Dilgam Babir Tagiyev) - General Director of the Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry named after Academician Nagiyev, Vice-President of the National Academy of Azerbaijan; Sylvia M. Mrozowska (Prof. Sylwia M. Mrozowska) - head of the Center for Sustainable Development, vice-rector of the University of Gdańsk; Arkadiusz Modrzejewski (Prof. Arkadiusz Modrzejewski) - Head of the Department of Political Sciences of the University of Gdańsk; Marina Nalbandyan (Dr. M. Nalbandyan) - Associate Professor of Yerevan Haibusa University, - Chief Scientist of the Geoinformatics Laboratory of the Academy of Sciences. Abstracts for online participation and discussion at the conference were sent from USA, Germany, France, Belgium, Slovakia, Ukraine, Moldova, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Brazil.
Georgian scientists made reports at the event: Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Georgia V. Tsitsishvili - Reasons for using natural zeolites of Georgia; The chief scientist-collaborator of the Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry of TSU named after Petre Melikishvili N. Mirdzveli - Identification of impurities in paper made from waste; Dr. Gia Maisuradze, the leading scientist of the Baker Laboratory of Chemistry and Chemical Biology of Cornell University (USA) - Investigation of amyloid fibril formation by coarse-grained molecular dynamics; Chief scientific employee of Techinformi, GTU, L. Chobanian - The methodology of creating a system of monitoring and evaluation of scientific and technical projects; The researchers of the GTU Biotechnology Center G. Kaishauri - Sweet snacks from the secondary raw material of grapefruit, and G. Khachidze - Modeling in a factory way; Doctoral student of the TSU A. Tvalchrelidze Caucasus Institute of Mineral Resources S. Jalaghania - Adsorbent for removing H2S from thermal water; Senior researcher of the TSU R. Agladze Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Electrochemistry L. Ghurchumelia - Composite powders of natural raw materials for the production of new types of environmentally safe fire-preventing materials; I. Khutsishvili, researcher of TSU Elefther Andronikashvili Institute of Physics - Creation and study of G4 PAMAM dendimers with silver and gold atoms; Researcher of the Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of the Agrarian University of Georgia N. Zavradashvili - Hybrid cationic polymers based on non-proteinogenic α-amino acid; Senior researcher of the TSU R. Agladze Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Electrochemistry S. Khutsishvili - Formation of polymer nanocomposites containing magnetic metal and their prospects; Professor of Davit Tvildiani Medical University T. Chachibaia - Modern issues of nanotechnology in the development of medicinal chemistry and implementation of programs in medicine; Georgian innovation and technology agency consultant L. Jioshvili - Technology transfer in Georgia: challenges and opportunities; Senior researcher of the TSU P. Melikishvili Institute of Organic Chemistry, K. Karchkhadze - Development of biodiesel production from biomass waste in Georgia; Professor of Chemistry Department of Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University Prof. Aleko Kalandia - Study of the physico-chemical characteristics of common field honey in western Georgia; Mariam Tsatsanashvili - Public-private partnership in the field of technology and innovation management.
In parallel with the conference, the work of the seasonal school allowed the doctoral and master's students to learn how to easily navigate the complexities of introducing and using the latest technologies. The idea of the joint work of the conference and the school to solve sustainable challenges, the collective spirit in the field of knowledge impact and knowledge dissemination, revitalization of intergenerational scientific communication, showed the possibilities of increasing the effectiveness of the science-state-society relationship. Discussions provided by the school program on the following topics: culture of applied research; Interdisciplinary studies and agro-ecological environment; public-private partnership in the field of innovation - took place in a comfortable and friendly environment, where they discussed the main methods of interdisciplinary and mathematical research, listened personal examples of success of experienced scientists, new approaches to the promotion of science, deepened their knowledge about the possibilities of integration of educational-research and business processes, planned internships in accordance with research interests; met members of the international scientific community; Peers working on issues of scientific PR in the fields of natural sciences, as well as innovation management, established connections with the prospect of creating future joint projects. In the Fablab for innovation and knowledge transfer, they got acquainted with the technology of cutting, engraving and 3D scanners; also, drone laboratory and implementation of various activities through drones: photo-video shooting, measurement of some parameters of atmospheric air, spraying of pesticides, movement of cargo, synchronized movement and others.
On November 25, Telavi State University named after Jacob Gogebashvili hosted the participants of the conference and students of the seasonal school. At a joint meeting of the conference and the seasonal school, the possibilities of introducing chemical technologies in various fields were discussed, the topics of which were: transferable skills and problems for beginning researchers; modern methods for assessing the impact of air/water/soil pollution on human health; Introduction of chemical and IT technologies to protect cultural heritage.
According to the program, the conference was closed in Tbilisi, and the seasonal school in Telavi, in a friendly atmosphere against the background of cultural heritage attractions. Guests noted that during the event there was a sense of positive energy and an impulse to overcome the boundaries of innovation, which will undoubtedly be a prerequisite for long-term cooperation.
The conference organizers thanked the diverse and dynamic group of professionals, through whom an active platform for meaningful interaction, knowledge sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration was created. The success of the event was made possible by the enthusiasm and valuable contribution of each participant.
Grigor Tatishvili, director of R.Agladze Institute of Inorganic Chemistry and Electrochemistry, also sincerely thanked the authors of the winning project within the framework of the 2023 TSU student project competition: "From Idea to Implementation", sponsors: Caparol; Innosystems; SMC/Service Management Company, Chona’s Marani, whose support was determinative in making the conference and seasonal school a reality. He also announced the format of an upcoming meeting of a hyper-disciplinary conference devoted to the convergence of transformative technologies for localized solutions.
