ArmInfo. Physical AI is a priority for Armenia. This was stated by Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, during a meeting with NVIDIA Vice President Rev Lebaredyan and a delegation from Agile Robots, a company working in the field of AI and robotics, led by CEO Zhaopeng Chen. Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan also participated in the meeting, which took place in Engineering City.
He emphasized the need to quickly consolidate resources in this dynamically developing field through active international cooperation, ensuring sustainable development and competitiveness.
The minister presented the Armenian government's policies and current programs aimed at developing the technology ecosystem. In this context, he emphasized the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors, noting that it is precisely this interaction that shapes a unified and systemic vision for the development of high technology.
Referring to the cooperation that has developed with Armenia over many years, Rev Lebaredyan noted that it is aimed at uniting talent and consistently developing technological potential. Speaking about the pace of development of artificial intelligence, he emphasized that AI is already widely used in the creation of physical robots and the transformation of production processes, including through the use of modeling and simulation technologies. Lebaredyan also praised the technological environment that has emerged in Armenia, emphasizing the significant potential of the existing tools and resources.
In her speech, Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized the importance of education and science, emphasizing the need to deepen international cooperation between educational institutions. She also emphasized the importance of continuously improving infrastructure as the foundation for the implementation of new programs and the formation of a modern scientific and educational environment.
During the meeting, the parties discussed Armenia's capabilities in the areas of physical artificial intelligence and robotics as strategic areas. In addition, the tools and mechanisms of state support were discussed to identify new avenues for development and stimulate international cooperation. Particular attention was paid to scientific and educational potential.
During the visit, the delegation toured the Engineering City, familiarizing themselves with its infrastructure, laboratory capabilities, and technological environment.
ArmInfo previously reported that the Armenian government approved the concept for the creation of the Engineering City and the associated action plan at its March 1, 2018, meeting. The program's goal is to transform Armenia into a country that exports engineering and high-tech products and services to the global market, as well as a regional hub for innovative solutions. A 3-hectare site on Bagrevand Street has been selected for the creation of the Engineering City.
The program is planned to be implemented through a public-private partnership. The planned investment volume is $21.2 million, of which $10.5 million is co-financing from the state under the World Bank's Trade Facilitation and Quality Infrastructure loan program.
The remaining investment will be provided by National Instruments AM and a consortium of 14 joint-stock companies.
The program is expected to become cost-effective in its fourth year. The project plans to train and retrain 1,500 specialists in engineering and high technology. It will create 2,000 new jobs and establish 20 new businesses in the field. It is also expected to increase company efficiency by 40% and export volumes by 30%.
