Pupils and students who will be awarded at international technical and scientific competitions will receive prizes of up to 15,000 lei, and grants for laureates of national and international research, development and innovation olympiads will be increased by thousands of euros, the government decided on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the government adopted two decisions aimed at assigning scholarships for scientific research and development and prizes for achievements in this field, as well as increasing grants for laureates of international Olympiads.

The first decision of the Government concerned the approval of the “Henri Coanda” Program, which provides for financing the participation of pupils and students in international scientific and technical competitions by providing scholarships for research and development and prizes for the recognition of results.

According to the Government, the research, development and innovation program is aimed at:

• stimulate the interest of pupils and student youth in research and scientific activities, participation in research and innovation activities;
• to develop the skills and competences of pupils and students to work in teams and carry out research activities;
• create the necessary legal framework for the formation of a new generation open to knowledge at the European and international levels;
• increase the number of young Romanians willing to stay and conduct research in Romania after receiving research grants.

Stimulating the creation of teams of young people is a prerequisite for keeping in Romania future generations of researchers who will support and contribute to the development of the national research, development and innovation (RDI) system, and also ensures the training of qualified personnel for CDI. field.

The value of the HENRI COANDĂ research and development scholarship is no more than 100,000 lei.

These funds are intended to cover the costs of research, development and travel to international scientific and technical competitions.

Pupils and students who take 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in international scientific and technical Olympiads will receive prizes.

Prize sizes for recognition of the work results of scholarship teams:

• the first prize is 15,000 lei
• second prize – 9,000 lei
• third prize – 6,000 lei.

The program contributes to the implementation of the National Strategy for Research, Innovation and Intellectual Specialization (SNCISI – 2022-2027), approved by HG no. 933/2022.

Increase of scholarships to laureates of international Olympiads

The second decision, adopted by the Government on Tuesday, concerned the introduction of amendments and additions to Government Resolution No. 403/2017 on the approval of the Research, Development and Innovation Grant Program “Grant for Young Researchers KING CAROL I”

The legislation updated the cost of scholarships to make them attractive to students.

The decision provides for an increase in the amount of grants as follows:

For laureates of international Olympiads number:

• – EUR 6,000 per year for a gold medal/first prize, from the current EUR 4,000;
• – 5,500 euros per year for a silver medal/second prize, from the current 3,500 euros;
• – 4,000 euros per year for a bronze medal/3rd prize, from the current 3,000 euros;
• – 3,500 euros per mention, from 2,500 euros now;

For laureates of national Olympiads number:

• – EUR 4,000 per year for a gold medal/first prize, from the current EUR 3,000;
• – 3,500 euros per year for a silver medal/2nd prize from the current 2,500 euros;
• – 3,000 euros per year for a bronze medal/3rd prize, from the current 2,000 euros;
• – 2,500 euros per mention, from the current 1,500 euros;

For participation in international scientific events and/or for the protection of intellectual property rights, the amount:

• – 1000 euros/year for each grant participant, from the current 500 euros;

For a team of at least 2 students, of which at least one is an Olympian, from one or more universities, for materials, assemblies and subcontracting to implement technology demonstrations or promote ideas created by the team, presented and placed in prestigious international competitions in the amount of:

• – 5,000 euros per team 2/year, the amount increases depending on the number of student members of the formed team.

The update of the value of the grants was necessary due to the increase in inflation and the corresponding obligation of the beneficiary to work for a minimum of 4 years in a research institute or organization in Romania, as defined by OG No. 57/2002.

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