Statute

of

The Georgian National Academy of Sciences

Endorsed by the General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy

of Sciences on 11 June, 2008.

Tbilisi – 2008

Statute

of

The Georgian National Academy of Sciences

I. General

1. The Georgian National Academy of Sciences is an Association of persons, who have achieved excellence in science and scholarship. It is a successor to, and continuer of, the old traditions of the Academies of Gelati and Iqalto - seats of Old Georgian Education and Spirituality. The Academy is a scientific adviser to the Georgian Government.

2. The Georgian National Academy of Sciences is a legal entity of public Law, based on membership, and a legal successor to the "Georgian Academy of Sciences". It is composed of Full Members (Academicians) and Corresponding Members, as well as of Honorary Members and Foreign Members of the Academy.

3. In its activities the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is guided by the Georgian Constitution, the Georgian Law «On the Georgian National Academy of Sciences», the Georgian Legislation and the Statute of the Academy.

4. The Georgian National Academy of Sciences is a self-governing Scientific Institution, which independently approves its Statute, defines its structure and decides questions of the Academy's scientific organization and its Staff, as well as questions of its economic and international cooperation.

II. The Objectives and Tasks of the Georgian National

Academy of Sciences

The Objectives of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences are:

a) furthering the development of science and scholarship in Georgia;

b) carrying out research of fundamental and applied character;

c) caring for the State Languages;

d) forecasting the ways of development of science and scholarship; working out proposals on state priorities in conformity with achievements of world science, and submitting appropriate recommendations to the Government;

e) carrying out expert assessment of the scientific research conducted in the country;

f) acquainting the public with world scientific achievements and promotion of the scientific attainments of Georgian scientists and scholars in the international arena.

6. In order to implement its objectives, the Georgian National Academy of Sciences:

a) engages in scientific-research and expert activities; in order to implement its tasks – in case of need – it sets up and directs research teams;

b) considers and assesses the Annual Reports and completed scientific work of Georgia's Higher Educational and Research Institutions, reflecting their activity; it is authorized to request from these organizations needed additional information, and inform them, as well as the Ministry of Education and Science and the Foundations for the Development of Science about the results of its expert activities;

c) expertizes the scientific activity and research work; arranges scientific Discussions, Symposia, and Conferences;

d) issues printed and electronic scientific journals and other periodicals, carries out international exchange of scientific literature;

e) engages in popularization of scientific achievements and scientific heritage; gives public lectures at Educational Institutions;

f) institutes and awards prizes in the fields of Science and Technologies to promote significant scientific work;

g) is entitled to membership in International Scientific Organizations; establishes contacts with the World's leading scientists and Scientific Centres;

h) coordinates the research work of Scientific Institutions;

i) sets up Commissions in various fields of Science and Technologies;

j) on the basis of a written request, keeps the private Archives of Figures of science and culture that are valuable for Georgian History;

k) according to various fields, awards the title of the best Research Institution and distributes prizes;

l) in conformity with the rules established by Georgian Legislation, engages in other auxiliary economic activities connected with the tasks of the Academy.

III. Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences

7. Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences are Full Members (Academicians), Corresponding Members, Honorary Academicians and Foreign Members.

8. A scientist/scholar who has made an internationally acknowledged contribution to the development of science/scholarship may be elected Academician of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

9. A scientist/scholar who has contributed highly significant studies to the development of science/scholarship may be elected a Corresponding Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

10. The Georgian National Academy of Sciences elects as its Honorary Member a Georgian citizen, a Figure of World recognition, who has made a major contribution to the development of science, culture and spiritual life of Georgia.

11. The Georgian National Academy of Sciences elects as its Foreign Member a foreign scientist/scholar of World recognition, a Public Figure, who has made a major contribution to the development of science and culture, being connected with his/her work with Georgian science and culture.

12. The total number of Full Members (Academicians) of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences should not exceed seventy.

13. The activities of a Member of the Academy in the General Meeting and the Academic Council should not be considered as execution of administrative functions.

IV. Management of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences

14. The Georgian National Academy of Sciences is managed on the basis of the principles of electivity, democracy and transparency.

15. The Georgian National Academy of Sciences is managed by:

a) the General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences – the Highest Organ of management of the Academy;

b) the Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences (hereafter: Academic Council);

c) the President of the Academy.

V. The General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences

16. The General Meeting of the Academy is the Highest Body of management of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, in which Full Members of the Academy (Academicians) and Corresponding Members take part with voting right. Honorary Members and Foreign Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, residing in Georgia, also take part in the work of the General Meeting with a deliberative vote.

17. The General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences:

a) approves, by a majority vote of the listed composition, the Statute of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences;

b) determines the key directions of the activity of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences;

c) elects the President, Vice-President (Vice-Presidents) of the Academy, the Academician-Secretary and other Members of the Academic Council by secret ballot – by the majority of its listed composition;

d) considers and endorses the Annual Report of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, and submits a motivated request for subsidizing the Academy for the coming year;

e) elects Full Members (Academicians) and Corresponding Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences;

f) confirms the Honorary and Foreign Members of the Academy, elected by the Academic Council;

Note: In accordance with the Law «On the Georgian National Academy of Sciences», election of Corresponding Members to the Georgian National Academy of Sciences should be discontinued starting from the month of May, 2009.

g) hears Papers of Academy Members, discusses questions of scientific and scientific-organizational character;

h) considers matters pertaining to Scientific Ethics;

i) recalls Members of the Academic Council before the expiry of their term, by secret ballot, with the presence of 3/5 of the listed composition of the Academy.

18. The General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is convened according to need, but at least twice a year. Calling of the General Meeting is obligatory, if demanded by 1/3 of the Members entitled to vote.

19. The General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is competent, if not less than 3/5 of the Members with voting right are present.

20. The General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is called and chaired by the President of the Academy, and, in his/her absence, by his/her Substitute.

21. The General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences takes decisions by a majority of the listed composition.

VI. The Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences

22. The Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is composed of the President, the Vice-Presidents, the Academician-Secretary, and other Members of the Academy. The number of the Members of the Academic Council is determined by the General Meeting of the Academy; the Members of the Academic Council are not Public Officers.

An Advisory Group functions within the Academic Council; it is formed of the former Members of the Council (Presidium) and takes part in the work of the Council with deliberative vote. The number of the Members of the Advisory Group is determined by the Academic Council.

23. The Associated Members of the Academic Council take part in the work of the Academic Council, with deliberative vote. They are elected by open ballot – by the majority of votes of the Council. The number of Associated Members is determined by the Academic Council.

The authorized representatives of those Scientific Organizations that structurally come under the Georgian National Academy of Sciences are also considered Associated Members of the Academic Council (the "Main Scientific Editorial Board of the Irakli Abashidze Georgian Encyclopaedia" and the "Giorgi Tsereteli Committee for the Academic Edition of Vepkhistqaosani –«The Man in the Panther's Skin» – and the Thesaurus of the Georgian Language").

In conformity with Article 10 of the Georgian Law «On Science and Technologies and their Development», in case of a request of a Research Institution and the assent of the Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, this Scientific Institution may constitute itself into a Structural Unit of the Academy, provided the decision is taken by the Georgian Ministry of Economic Development on transferring the property to it.

24. The President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, the Vice-Presidents, and the Academician-Secretary are elected from the Academicians of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences by the General Meeting of the Academy by secret ballot, by the listed majority, for a 5-year term.

Other Members of the Academic Council are elected by the General Meeting of the Academy by secret ballot for the term of five years, by the listed majority of its composition.

The responsibilities of the President, the Vice-Presidents, the Academician-Secretary and other Members of the Academic Council are assigned by the Academic Council.

25. The Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences carries out the decisions taken by the General Meeting of the Academy, and directs the activities of the Academy in the period between the General Meetings.

26. Scientific Committees, Commissions, Scientific Societies may be attached to the Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

27. The Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences:

a) establishes scientific contacts with specialized Academies of Sciences and Foreign Academies of Sciences, as well as with other Scientific Institutions;

b) convenes Scientific Sessions, Conferences, Meetings, and Symposia; awards personal prizes for significant scientific studies, discoveries and inventions, as well as prizes of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences for best scientific works of young scientists and students of Higher Educational Institutions;

c) submits an Annual Report of the activities of the Academy to the Georgian National Academy of Sciences for approval;

d) on the basis of the conclusions submitted by the Scientific Departments of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, assesses the annual reports on the scientific activity and on completed research works of the Georgian Higher Educational and Research Institutions; offers its views to these Organizations, and to the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science and the Foundations for the Development of Science.

e) endorses the regulation of those Organizations that come under the Georgian National Academy of Sciences in the form of a Structural Unit ("Irakli Abashidze Main Scientific Editorial Board of the Georgian Encyclopaedia"; "Giorgi Tsereteli Committee for the Academic Edition of Vepkhistqaosani –«The Man in the Panther's Skin» – and the Thesaurus of the Georgian Language");

f) at the President's suggestion, confirms the Directors of the Organizations that are under the Georgian National Academy of Sciences in the form of Structural Units;

g) endorses the composition and regulations of the Editorial Boards and Councils of the Academy's Periodicals;

h) endorses the model regulations on the awarding of academic personal prizes to outstanding scientists/scholars.

28. The Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is accountable to the General Meeting.

29. The Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is served by an Administrative Staff; the regulation and routine of the Staff are endorsed by the Academic Council. The Administrative Staff is directed by the President's Assistant, who is confirmed by the Academic Council by open ballot, at the submission by the President.

VII. The President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences

The President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is elected from the Full Members of the Academy for a 5-year term by secret ballot, by the majority of the listed composition. The President of the Academy may not be elected for more than two terms in succession.

The Academy Council, the Scientific Departments and Specialized Commissions, groups of Members of the Academy and individual Members are entitled to propose the candidature for President.

31. The President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences:

a) directs the Academy and is a plenipotentiary representative of the Academy both within the Country and beyond its borders; the President of the Academy is Chair of the Academic Council;

b) proposes candidates for Membership of the Academic Council to the General Meeting;

c) convenes and chairs the General Meeting and Sessions of the Academic Council;

d) disposes of the Academy's funds.

32. The Office of the President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is an administrative post; it is not subject to age restrictions.

VIII. The Structure of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences

33. The Scientific Department is the basic structural unit of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

34. The structure of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is determined by the Academic Council and endorsed by the General Meeting of the Academy.

IX. The Scientific Department of the Georgian National

Academy of Sciences

35. The Scientific Department is the basic Scientific Organizational Unit of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences (hereafter: Department) that is directed by the Academician-Secretary of the Department.

36. The General Meeting of the Department is the Highest Body of the Department. In the period between the Meetings the work of the Department is directed by the Bureau of the Department.

37. The General Meeting of the Department elects the Academician-Secretary from the Full Members by secret ballot.

38. The Department sets up Specialized Commissions on Science and Technologies (hereafter: Commissions), and the General Meeting of the Department elects Chairpersons of the Commissions from the Members of the Academy.

39. The Bureau of the Department is comprised of the Academician-Secretary of the Department and the Chairpersons of the Commissions. Other Members of the Department may also be elected to the Bureau.

40. The Scientific Department:

a) determines the number of the Members of the Bureau and elects its composition;

b) hears and endorses the Report on the work of the Department;

c) discusses questions of the development of priority lines of relevant fields and submits appropriate proposals to the Academic Council;

d) gives expert judgement of the annual reports on the activity of Georgia's Scientific and Educational Institutions and submits a relevant conclusion to the Academic Council;

e) coordinates the work of the respective Scientific Institutions;

f) sets up Expert Commissions for the award of personal prizes of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences;

g) submits proposals to the Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences on the award of personal prizes. In the case of a relevant decision being taken, the Academic Council sets up Expert Commissions to consider the applications received;

h) discusses questions of holding scientific sessions, conferences and meetings, submitting appropriate proposals to the Academic Council;

i) selects candidates for Full and Corresponding Membership in the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

41. The Department Bureau:

a) prepares scientific-organizational questions for discussion at the General Meeting of the Department;

b) coordinates the work of Expert Commissions set up for awarding personal prizes to outstanding scientists/scholars; considers the results of their work and submits the materials of discussions at the Department General Meeting to the Academic Council for approval;

c) gives general guidance to the work of the Department Commissions..

42. The Secretary-General of the Scientific Department of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences:

a) directs the Department and is a plenipotentiary representative of the Department in the Academic Council;

b) calls and chairs the Department General Meeting and the Bureau of the Department.

43. The objectives of Specialized Commissions of the Department are:

a) analysis of the international level of the results achieved in the field of Science and Technologies; working out recommendations and submitting them to the Department General Meeting for discussion;

b) expert estimation of the Annual Reports on the scientific-technological studies and separate scientific works, and submission of a relevant conclusion for discussion at the Department Bureau;

c) identification of the year's best research teams according to the fields and submission of relevant proposals for discussion at the Bureau of the Department; the best research team is selected by the Department Bureau on the basis of the established criteria.

X. The Rule of Electing Academicians, Corresponding Members, Honorary Academicians and Foreign Members

44. Elections of the Academicians and the Corresponding Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences take place on the basis of this Statute and the Interim Regulations endorsed by the Academic Council.

45. Election of Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is held for vacancies according to specialties approved by the Academic Council. The terms of holding elections are determined by the Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

46. The announcement of the Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences on holding elections of its Members is published not later than three months before the elections.

47. Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, as well as Special Commissions, Scientific Institutions, State Higher Educational Institutions, and Scientific Societies are entitled to put forward candidates for Membership in the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

The data on the Candidates nominated by Organizations and by Members of the Academy for participation in the elections are submitted in writing to the Academic Council of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences within a month.

The List of Candidates registered to take part in the elections is published not later than one month prior to the elections.

48. A Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is elected by the General Meeting of the Academy from the Candidates selected by the Scientific Departments of the Academy.

At the elections to the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, by a special decision of the Academic Council, individual Departments may hold - if needed –a joint Meeting for filling the vacancies allotted for these Departments.

49. At the elections of Candidates for Full Membership of the Academy, only the Academicians of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences enjoy the right to vote;

At the elections of Candidates for Corresponding Membership, both the Academicians and the Corresponding Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences enjoy the right to vote.

50. A Department is authorized to conduct a selection of Candidates for Membership of the Academy, if the Meeting is attended by at least 3/5 of the listed composition of Academicians;

A selection of Candidates for Corresponding Membership can be held, if at least 3/5 of the listed composition both of the Academicians and the Corresponding Members of the Department are present.

Note: Academicians and Corresponding Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, who are on a mission abroad at the time of elections shall not be considered in the listed composition of Members of the Department, nor the Academicians and Corresponding Members, about whom a special decision of the Academic Council has been taken on relieving them from participation in the elections owing to their state of health.

51. The Department shall select the Candidates for Membership of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences by secret ballot.

Those who receive not less than 3/5 majority of the listed composition of the Academicians of the Department will be considered as selected for Candidacy of Academician of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences;

Those who receive not less than 3/5 majority of the listed composition both of the Academicians and the Corresponding Members of the Department will be considered as selected for Candidacy of Corresponding Membership of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

52. At the General Meeting, at the elections of Academicians of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, only Academicians are entitled to vote, while electing Corresponding Members, both the Academicians and the Corresponding Members of the Academy enjoy this right.

53. The Academicians and Corresponding Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences are elected at the General Meeting of the Academy by secret ballot. The persons who receive the majority, but not less then the 3/5 of the listed composition of the Academicians of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences will be considered elected as Academicians, while Corresponding Members need the majority – but not less than 3/5 of the listed composition – both of the Full Members and the Corresponding Members of the Academy.

Note: The Academicians and Corresponding Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, who are on a mission abroad at the time of elections shall not be considered in the listed composition, nor the Academicians and Corresponding Members about whom a special decision of the Academic Council has been taken, relieving them from participation in the elections owing to the state of their health.

54. A Candidate for election to fill vacancies of Honorary Academicians and Foreign Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences shall be proposed by the President of the Academy.

55. A Foreign Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is elected by the Academic Council, by open ballot and simple majority, and approved by the General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

56. An Honorary Academician of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is elected by the Academic Council by a majority of votes, by open ballot, and approved by the General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences.

XI. The Status of Academician and Corresponding Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences

57. An Academician and a Corresponding Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences may direct research into major scientific problems or take part in their implementation.

58. Academicians and Corresponding Members of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences are Members of one of the Departments; they may move from one Department to another, provided a majority of the listed composition of the other Department gives its assent.

59. An Academician or a Corresponding Member, who is Member of one Department, may – at the assent of the listed composition of the Members of another Department - take part in the work of the latter, and enjoy all the rights of a Member of this Department, excepting the right to vote at the election in the same Department of Academicians and Corresponding Members of the Academy.

60. A Member of the Academy is entitled to raise scientific and scientific-organizational questions for discussion in the Academic Council, as well as in the Department he/she belongs to, and propose such questions at the General Meeting.

61. A Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences should submit an Annual Report on his scientific work to the respective Department, following its discussion in the respective Commission.

XII. The Allowance of a Member of the Georgian National

Academy of Sciences

62. A Full Member (Academician) of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is assigned a lifetime monthly allowance of not less than GEL 1.600.

63. A Corresponding Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is assigned a lifetime monthly allowance of not less than GEL 1.000.

64. The allowance of a Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is paid from the State Budget of Georgia.

65. The allowance provided for by points 62 and 63 for a Full Member or a Corresponding Member of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences will be discontinued in the case of renouncing or losing Georgian citizenship.

66. The allowance provided for by points 62 and 63 corresponds to the allowance set for the scientific status of a Member of the Academy.

XIII. The Property of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences

67. To implement the objectives set and the functions imposed, the Georgian National Academy of Sciences uses the property under usufruct, transferred to it without compensation by the Georgian Ministry of Economic Development, according to the rules established by the Georgian Legislation.

XIV. Financing the Georgian National Academy of Sciences

68. The basic source of financing the Georgian National Academy of Sciences is the Georgian State Budget. The funds allocated to the Academy are itemized separately in the Georgian Law «On the State Budget for the Relevant Year».

69. Additional sources of funding the Georgian National Academy of Sciences are:

a) state and private Funds supporting scientific research, including international Funds and those of foreign countries;

b) grants and revenues received from implemented contracts;

c) revenues from scientific and publishing activities (including those funded by the State Budget);

d) financial resources obtained through economic activity authorized by the Georgian Legislation;

e) other – including auxiliary economic activity connected with the tasks of the Academy and carried on conformably to the rules established by the Georgian Legislation.

XV. State Control of the Activity of the Georgian National

Academy of Sciences

70. State monitoring of the activities of the Academy is carried out by the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science in conformity with the Rules set by the Georgian Legislation.

XVI. The Rule of Altering the Statute of the Georgian

Academy of Sciences

71. The Statute of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences can be altered by a decision of the General Meeting of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, in favor of which at least 3/5 of the listed composition of the Members of the Academy should vote.