The Knowledge Fund

The Knowledge Fund is a non-profit, official Charity Organisation founded by Kakha Bendukidze in 2007. The Knowledge Fund is exemplary in the field of education in Georgia and is the founding organisation of Free University of Tbilisi and Agricultural University of Georgia.

The goal of the fund is to provide the young generation with world-class education and to promote high-quality scientific research in Georgia. For this purpose, the fund invests in the future generations of Georgia through financing educational and research infrastructure of Free University of Tbilisi and Agricultural University of Georgia, as well as finances students’ fees & research activities.

In the period of 2007 and 2014, Kakha Bendukidze has invested approximately 50 million USD in education and science through the Knowledge Fund. Since 2018, the fund has also started its activities in secondary education. After Kakha Bendukidze's death, his Team has invested an additional 30 million USD through the Knowledge Fund, making the total investment by 2023 more than 80 million USD, which is an outstanding private charitable investment in the field of education and science in Georgia.

The Knowledge Fund is actively continuing Kakha Bendukidze’s mission and vision of the fund.

Edison league

The Knowledge Fund

Georgian Agricultural University

In 2011, the Agricultural University of Georgia was entrusted to the Knowledge Fund, established by Kakha Bendukidze, under a management contract. In 2012, the university was privatized for approximately $5.2 million USD (around 9 million GEL). Additionally, the Knowledge Fund committed to investing an extra 8 million GEL.

The Knowledge Fund fulfilled and exceeded its obligations responsibly. For example, shortly after privatization, it invested over 13 million GEL in improving and developing the infrastructure of the Agricultural University of Georgia's campus.

By 2023, over $80 million USD had been invested in the Agricultural University of Georgia and Tbilisi Free University, both founded by the Knowledge Fund.

Since 2011, Kakha Bendukidze initiated extensive reforms to fundamentally transform the Agricultural University of Georgia. These reforms included developing and implementing new programs based on international experience, establishing practical and laboratory sessions, selecting qualified professors and researchers, many of whom returned to Georgia at Bendukidze’s invitation, and radically rehabilitating and modernizing the campus infrastructure with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment.

Campus 2010

Georgian Agricultural University

The Agricultural University of Georgia is a highly reputable higher education institution focused on students' success, research, and the renewal of traditions.

The university operates 14 research institutes, comprising a total of 26 research laboratories. It also has 7 independent research laboratories and 2 service laboratories. Additionally, the university has three Testing-Research Bases and five Collections housing hundreds of different samples. The campus is home to a veterinary clinic, the Culinary Academy, the Viticulture and Winemaking Academy, and more.

At all three levels of higher education, the programs at the Agricultural University of Georgia are based on the principles of liberal and classical education, fostering creative and critical thinking as well as practical skills among students.

Today, the Agricultural University of Georgia offers 11 bachelor's, 6 master's, 6 doctoral, and numerous vocational programs, organized into five schools: School of Agronomy and Landscape Management, Business School, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Natural Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Engineering Technology.

The School of Agronomy and Landscape Management offers two programs: a Bachelor's Program in Agronomy and a Bachelor's Program in Landscape Management, Parks and Forestry.

The School of Natural Sciences and Biotechnology offers eight programs: a Bachelor's Program in Chemistry, a Bachelor's Program in Biology, a Bachelor's Program in Food Technology and a Bachelor's Program in Viticulture-Winemaking. In collaboration with the Free University of Tbilisi, it also offers a Master's Program in Natural Sciences and PhD Programs in Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.

The School of Veterinary Medicine offers two programs: a Veterinary Integrated Master's Program and a Veterinarian Training Program.

These three schools collectively offer Master's and PhD programs in Agricultural Sciences.

The Business School offers two programs: a Bachelor's Program in Business Administration and a Bachelor's Program in Liberal Arts.

The School of Engineering Technology offers seven programs: a Bachelor's Program in Electronic and Computer Engineering, a Bachelor's Program in Mechanical Engineering, a Bachelor's Program in Construction Engineering, a Master's Program in Electronic and Computer Engineering, a Master's Program in Construction Engineering, a PhD Program in Engineering and a PhD Program in Mechanical Engineering.