Collaboration with NCURA (USA)
In 2023, the South Caucasus and Ukraine Initiative was establish by BTU in collaboration with National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA, USA). This network represents a professional association for university research administrators in the region, creating a unified platform for sharing best practices and experiences, promoting the internationalization of research, and fostering the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches in research and education.
Business and Technology University (BTU) has been actively involved in the “University Capacity Building” program since 2022. The program is funded by the U.S. Embassy, the “American Councils for International Education,” and supported by the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA).
As a part of the program, the BTU representatives participated in two study visits to the United States in 2022 and 2024.
The first visit in 2022 aimed at supporting the entrepreneurial culture in Georgia’s higher education institutions (HEI) and bridging the practical research outcomes with the industrial sector to foster innovation and the country’s economic resilience.
The second visit in 2024 focused on research administration at HEI, aiming at enhancing the operation of science management units.
During the study visits, the BTU representatives shared the experience of the following U.S. institutions: Harvard, Yale, Pennsylvania State, George Mason, George Washington, American, New York, also Johns Hopkins Center, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, University Association of Technology Transfer Managers, American-Georgian Business Council, Virginia Innovation Partnership Association, Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Cambridge Innovation Center, Long Island University, Stevens Institute of Technology, New York Institute of Technology, Small Business Development Center, Old Dominion University, Wharton School of Business, and others.
As a result of the visits, several significant activities have been initiated under the aegis of BTU and with the support of NCURA:
The curriculum for the Technology Transfer course has been developed for Georgian institutions in collaboration between NCURA and BTU. NCURA’s Executive Director, Claire Chen, coordinated the sharing of in-depth knowledge and experience in technology transfer from leading higher education institutions worldwide – George Washington University, American University of Beirut (AUB), Czech Technical University in Prague, King’s College London, University of Pennsylvania.
The online discussions cover various topics, including the invention disclosure process, evaluation and protection of new technologies, the role of research managers and administrators in the Tech Transfer cycle, and the role of Tech Transfer offices in developing academic-corporate alliances. Several meetings have already been held with representatives from the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia (Sakpatenti), who shared the patent policy documents and information on patent applications with BTU.
Additionally, BTU initiated a working meeting with patent-holding scientists to discuss the challenges and opportunities of research commercialization.
NCURA SCUI network aims to promote:
- Regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and joint participation in international projects;
- Dissemination of resources, information and best practices regarding the research administration cycle;
- Bringing together the highly qualified experts, practitioners, and like-minded professionals and creating a platform for effective collaboration;
- Multidisciplinary approaches in education and research, which will assist in the process of transferring innovations and technologies from basic research’s outcome to the consumer market;
- The delivery of online courses, activities, webinars and workshops to facilitate knowledge sharing.
The NCURA South Caucasus and Ukraine initiative organizes regular educational and informational sessions for South Caucasus region to support local PhD students, professors, and the research administration community in developing networks and sharing knowledge. The planned activities are conducted in a hybrid format, ensuring better engagement opportunities for those unable to attend on site.
Activities planned and implemented under NCURA’s leadership in 2023 and 2024 include:
- Professional development workshops for PhD students, university academic staff, and research administrators;
- Seminars on technology transfer models;
- Panel discussions on the research management cycle in the South Caucasus;
- Workshops on U.S. funding opportunities, and
- Sessions involving students.
All activities planned and implemented in 2023 are led by NCURA and hosted by BTU.
The NCURA South Caucasus and Ukraine initiative is supported by UCBP, which aims to promote an entrepreneurial culture in Georgian HEI, connect practical research outcomes with industry, and enhance innovation and economic growth by strengthening the university-business-government triangle.
The NCURA South Caucasus and Ukraine Initiative currently unites 16 partner institutions:
- Business and Technology University, Georgia
- Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia
- Georgian Technical University, Georgia
- Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University, Georgia
- Iakob Gogebashvili Telavi State University, Georgia
- Gori State University, Georgia
- Shota Meskhia Zugdidi State University, Georgia
- Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University, Ukraine
- Donetsk National Technical University, Ukraine
- Lutsk National Technical University, Ukraine
- Institute of Metallurgy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine
- Mykola Gogol State University, Ukraine
- Tavria State Agrotechnological University, Ukraine
- National Polytechnic University of Armenia, Armenia
- Armenian State University of Economics, Armenia
- Center for Economic and Social Development, Azerbaijan
BTU brings under one roof higher education, regional technology hub, business accelerator, labs for Artificial Intelligence, Block chain, Cybersecurity, Renewable Energy, Android & iOS development, and Industry 4.0, as well as Entrepreneurship and Research centers.
As a result of the visit to the U.S. conducted in the frame of the University Capacity Building Program (UCBP) in 2024, research collaboration opportunities were identified with the U.S. universities corresponding BTU’s priority fields. Potential partner institutions for specific scientific directions include:
- Green/Sustainable Energy and Green Economy (including any related adjacent research areas): Potential Partner Institutions:
- Northeastern University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Pennsylvania State University
- George Washington University
- George Mason University
- Agricultural Technologies (including adjacent research areas):
Potential Partner Institutions:
- Entrepreneurship:
Potential Partner Institutions:
As a result of the visit to the U.S. conducted in the frame of the University Capacity Building Program (UCBP) in 2024, BTU considers the George Washington University Global Women Institute as a potential partner for women’s empowerment programs in technology.
As a result of 2024 UCBP study visit, BTU plans to organize an international Science Diplomacy event in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in the fall of 2025.
The Bloomberg Center is a hub for Science Diplomacy in the U.S. and hosts the annual Science Diplomacy Summit, which gathers researchers, experts, and representatives from the diplomatic and corporate sectors to discuss global issues through scientific approaches and define appropriate policies.
The thematic focus of the event is determined through prior agreement. The 2025 summit is scheduled for the fall. BTU will organize a satellite event to promote the Georgian HEI and its integration into the international scientific community.
A reciprocal visit of U.S. experts to BTU is planned in 2025. The visit is supported by NCURA, the U.S. Embassy, and the American Councils for International Education.
BTU offers a range of activities and opportunities for startup formation to its students and academic staff. However, there remains a significant gap in developing strong connections between research and the private sector, as it is the case with other leading educational institutions in Georgia. The issues include a lack of research-based startups, difficulties for researchers assessing the commercialization potential of their work, and interesting business sector in their research outcomes.
During their visit the U.S. experts will focus on implementing mechanisms to support the formation of research-based startups and ensuring their sustainability at BTU. With the assistance of U.S. experts and NCURA, BTU plans to develop an action plan for its Entrepreneurship and Research centers that will foster innovative thinking, advance entrepreneurial activities, and their integration into the university’s academic and research activities.