YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA ministry of education and science has positively assessed the idea of holding the Innovation Contest for students of Armenian universities by US-based Arpa Institute Foundation, was stated at the September 28 joint press conference of the rector of the State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA) Vostanik Marukhian and the chairman of Arpa Institute Hakob Panosian. In the rector's words, the contest will play a significant role in involvement of young people in the sphere of applied scientific developments. H. Panosian said that the RA ministry of education and scince has assumed the obligation to inform the heads of all Armenian higher educational institutions about the contest. According to him, if the contest proves a success, a contest of innovations will be held for Armenian schoolchildren as well. The foundation organizes Scientific Olympiads in the US which are accompanied by exhibitions of pupils' innovations. V. Marukhian in his turn noted that attempts to encourage innovation works among schoolchildren are made at the base school of SEUA, particularly, by forming groups for professional orientation in telecommunication and information technologies. To recap, the deadline for submitting bids for participation in the Innovation Contest of students is December 15. The first prize winner will receive 2,000 dollars, the person to take second place - 1,000 dollars, third place - 600 dollars, and fourth place - 400 dollars. According to H. Panosian, it is envisaged that the Innovation Contest of students will become an annual event.

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