Artistic research researches the creative process resulting into an art work. It shares the aim of any scientific research, contributing to accumulation of knowledge in a given field, though it frees a researcher from excessive formalities (such as obligatory research outcomes stated in a written form – this function could be taken over by a piece of art), building the knowledge upon the practice. The notion of artistic research is a relatively new one. However, it has already been implemented at the academic level in several countries. Artistic research has never been conducted in the Republic of Georgia. Though, Tbilisi State Conservatoire offers to performers and composers’ special doctoral programs that give doctoral students opportunities to examine issues related to performance and composition practice, based on theoretical and practical knowledge. The dissertations written in the framework of the programs to some extent relate to artistic research, though, they differ from artistic research in various aspects. The paper aims to reveal similarities and differences between those research forms and to present a research project Development of Artistic Research Methodology on the Example of Exploration of the Piano of the 21st Century and its Future Perspectives. The project aims to enrich the given doctoral programs with elements of artistic research and later to contribute to implementation of artistic research on the academic level in Georgia. This experience could be taken into consideration by other countries that are on the way of implementing artistic research in their educational systems.