Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), founded in 1918, is the oldest and largest university in Georgia and a leading institution in the South Caucasus. As a flagship research university, TSU hosts over 18,000 students and employs approximately 800 full-time and 900 part-time academic staff across seven academic units and 17 scientific research institutes. TSU offers comprehensive academic programmes at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels across a wide range of disciplines, including law, economics, social and political sciences, humanities, natural and exact sciences, and medical sciences. It is home to Academia Europaea Tbilisi Hub (hereinafter also as Hub), which was established in 2019 to serve as the organisation’s regional branch in the Caucasus. The Hub aims to promote European standards in scholarship, scientific management, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the region. The Hub will serve as the project leader within TSU further reinforcing its international academic profile. Next to this TSU is represented to the European Research Area forum of the European commission through the delegate who is also in charge of the institutional Horizon Europe Office standing as a stable foundation for ensuring the alignment of the project with ERA Policy Agenda. 

TSU plays a central role in Georgia’s knowledge economy and scientific advancement. It has extensive experience participating in international research projects and programmes such as Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe (including MSCA), FP7 and Erasmus+. TSU has acted both as a coordinating institution and a project partner, with multiple ongoing Horizon Europe projects.

The university has a well-established ecosystem for public engagement, science communication, and researcher training. Its outreach activities include partnerships with schools, scientific research dissemination, and teacher training programmes, making it well-suited to deliver Researchers at Schools and European Researchers’ Night activities.

TSU is a member of numerous prestigious international academic networks, which facilitate strategic partnerships, joint research, and capacity building. These include and are not limited to: European University Association (EUA); EUA Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE); International Association of Universities (IAU); Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF); Black Sea Universities Network (BSUN); Magna Charta Observatory; The European Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education; Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation.

Through its strong institutional capacity, wide disciplinary coverage, and deep engagement in EU research and policy networks, TSU is uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully to the European Researchers’ Night and broader Horizon Europe objectives, particularly in the fields of science communication, youth engagement, and inclusive public outreach.