Eleveight AI Opens Region\'s First AI Factory in Gagarin: Minister of High-Tech Industry Attends the Event

On June 1, RA Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan attended the official opening ceremony of Eleveight AI's artificial intelligence data center (AI factory) in Gagarin.

 During the event, participants learned about the capabilities of this AI factory—the first in the region and one of the few globally to utilize NVIDIA Blackwell B300 technology—and toured the facility to observe its infrastructure firsthand.

 In his speech, Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan noted that the new data center in Gagarin is a cornerstone of Armenia's future economy, emphasizing that the state's strategic goal is to transform the country into a regional "AI Factory Park."

"This means building an ecosystem driven by high-performance computing infrastructures, AI models, laboratories, and innovative companies. Our competitive advantage lies in our human capital, engineering culture, the global Armenian network, and our capacity to make fast, high-quality decisions," the Minister declared.

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan emphasized that the state's role is to create favorable conditions for investment, develop energy and digital infrastructures, train specialists, and ensure that Armenian startups have access to modern computing resources.

"Our goal is not merely to be a consumer of technology, but to become a country that creates it, exports it, and shapes the future. If successful states of the 20th century built industrial zones, then in the 21st century, those who establish AI factory parks will be competitive. Armenia's ambition is to be among those leaders," the Minister concluded.

Arman Aleksanyan, Co-founder and CEO of Eleveight AI, declared that after more than a year of work, the company is ready to launch the region's first AI factory based on NVIDIA Blackwell B300 technology. He emphasized that this supercomputing infrastructure—one of the few unique facilities globally—will open new development opportunities for businesses, startups, and the academic sector, while expressing gratitude to the RA Government and the Ministry of High-Tech Industry for supporting the project.

The data center built in Gagarin is designed for large-scale AI computations, generative model training, as well as digital solutions for both public and private sectors. Complying with "NVIDIA Reference Architecture" standards, the center will allow international companies to deploy their AI projects in Armenia without technical integration complexities.

The investment volume for the first phase of the project amounts to $70 million. By the end of the year, the company plans to make an additional investment of $50 million. A key feature of the data center is its sustainable and environmentally responsible operational model: it operates on the "Zero Chemical Footprint" principle, widely utilizing natural cooling solutions, while its energy independence is further supported by renewable energy sources. The cooling system operates in a closed cycle and does not consume external water or other natural resources.

Eleveight AI plans to allocate up to 20% of its total computing power to Armenian universities, research centers, and non-profit initiatives, thereby contributing to the development of local professional potential and fostering scientific innovation.

Within the framework of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the RA Ministry of High-Tech Industry and "ELEVEIGHT AI" CJSC. The memorandum aims to develop the artificial intelligence ecosystem, promote innovation, build capacity, and support applied programs in the Republic of Armenia. The MoU was signed by RA MHTI Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan and the company's Co-founder and CEO, Arman Aleksanyan.

The memorandum provides for strategic cooperation across several key vectors, including facilitation of startups, research teams, and innovative initiatives within the Artificial Intelligence sector; the execution of educational and professional development programs; the reinforcement of scientific and engineering capacities; the expansion of High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructures; the promotion of pilot and applied AI projects; the integration of AI solutions within the public administration framework; as well as the development of cloud services tailored for both the public and private sectors.

The parties also plan to establish the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Institute (AIVI) as a collaborative platform to support the development of educational programs, professional communities, research teams, and innovative initiatives. The memorandum further outlines the implementation of joint events, professional discussions, and pilot programs to enhance the international visibility of Armenia's AI sector.

The event was attended by Eduard Hakobyan, Chairman of the RA State Revenue Committee; Gevorg Mantashyan and Ruben Simonyan, Deputy Ministers of High-Tech Industry; Karen Sargsyan, Governor of Gegharkunik; representatives of the US Embassy, as well as stakeholders from the tech sector and the public and private domains.