Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence of the Republic of Armenia Gevorg Mantashyan paid a working visit to Barcelona, Kingdom of Spain, from October 7 to 9. As part of the visit, he visited the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) and held meetings with representatives of technology, research, and investment organizations.

At the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, the MareNostrum 5, one of Europe’s leading supercomputing infrastructures, and three quantum computers integrated with it were presented. The newest of these, EuroQCS-Spain, was launched in 2026. The system makes it possible to combine classical supercomputing, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing within a single infrastructure.

Plans for developing the next-generation MareNostrum 6 supercomputer were also discussed, including the use of European-designed semiconductor chips and the development of technological autonomy.

Particular attention was paid to the Center’s experience in building a research, educational, and innovation ecosystem around computing infrastructure. Opportunities for expert exchanges with Armenia, joint applied research, and training initiatives were discussed and received a positive response from the Center’s representatives.

The activities of the BSC AI Factory initiative were also explored. Its approaches are of interest for the development of Armenia’s AI Virtual Institute and “Garden of AI Factories” initiatives.

As part of the visit, a meeting was also held at the Computer Vision Center (CVC), where the parties discussed computer vision, applied artificial intelligence, technology transfer, intellectual property protection, and the commercialization of scientific results.

In Barcelona, Deputy Minister Mantashyan also attended the Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW) international event. Meetings with representatives of Tech Barcelona and Spain’s economic and investment sectors addressed the development of innovation ecosystems, opportunities for technological cooperation, and the attraction of Spanish investment.

During the meetings, Spanish partners were invited to participate in the “Silicon Mountains” and “DigiTec” technology events scheduled to take place in Armenia in November, as platforms for exchanging experience, expanding business ties, and developing new cooperation initiatives.

The experience gained and professional connections established during the visit could serve as a foundation for developing Armenia’s AI infrastructure, expanding research cooperation, and deepening international technology partnerships.