ETICA is the first of its kind in the Republic of Armenia and pioneering in its breadth and scope in the region.
Enhancing research and training in ethics in Armenia
ETICA was established through a 2.5 million Euros grant from Horizon Europe’s highly coveted and prestigious European Research Area (ERA) Chair competitive funding. To date, Armenia is the first country in the South Caucasus to receive such ERA Chair grants. The first ERA Chair award in Armenia was granted in November 2022 to Dr. Narine Sarvazyan, William Frazer Endowed Professor at AUA, whose Chair was hosted at Yerevan’s Orbeli Institute of Physiology.ETICA is based on four academic pillars: Research & Internationalization, Teaching & Training, Public Outreach, and Structural Reforms in Higher Education. The project’s ultimate goal is to establish ETICA as a national and international hub for excellent research, training, and outreach in ethics in the public and professional arenas. To this end, the Center will hold regular international conferences and workshops, publish peer-reviewed articles, create teaching resources and opportunities in English and Armenian, and engage the Armenian public, including youth, in deliberations on key ethical issues. The project also aims to introduce measures to support researchers at AUA and other Armenian higher education institutions to achieve further success with Horizon Europe funding applications and project management.
Armenia, as we know, is facing a multitude of political challenges, yet it is quite unique in retaining and even improving its democratic credentials. The five-year research theme of ETICA, “Hope and Trust in a Time of Multi-Crises,” was chosen to reflect the current realities of Armenia — and the world more broadly. ETICA has no commitments to any political ideology or party, but it can fulfill its objectives only within a free and democratic environment, where people are not afraid to speak openly or to disagree. Armenia’s success in preserving its democratic values will be the key to facing the ethical challenges that all societies — some more than others — must address.
ETICA is currently recognized as the number one featured project on CORDIS, the European Union’s official platform for showcasing successful research and innovation initiatives. This distinction marks a significant milestone for AUA and for Armenia as a whole, with the national flag proudly displayed on the site.
