Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan Received Gor Vardanyan, Rector of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia: Cooperation Prospects Were Discussed

On February 4, the Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, welcomed a delegation led by Gor Vardanyan, Rector of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia.

Mkhitar Hayrapetyan emphasized the importance of the education-science-production chain, the development and implementation of innovation-driven scientific research programs, and the role of tech-focused universities and faculties. The Minister highlighted the seven-year program for the development of the tech sector and presented the reforms introduced for students, startups, and specialists under the new legislation. He also addressed the Ministry’s ongoing and upcoming programs, as well as the recent amendments to the Tax Code of the Republic of Armenia, which provide tax incentives specifically for R&D employees.

Gor Vardanyan outlined the University’s initiatives aimed at advancing technological education, achievements, and the challenges it faces, along with the steps being taken to address them. Discussions also covered the adoption of sub-legislative acts under the new law, reforms concerning scientific staff working in the University’s basic research laboratories, and procedures for specialist retraining.

The two sides explored opportunities for new collaborations within the Ministry’s programs, including the “From Idea to Business” grant program and the “Improvement of Practical Skills” component of the “Higher Educational Institutions-Private Sector Cooperation for the Training of Specialists” program. They also discussed potential areas of cooperation in innovation development, the startup ecosystem, engineering education, and human capital formation, particularly in the context of emerging professions. Additionally, they explored joint solutions to sectoral challenges arising from Ministry-Academia collaboration.

Agreements were reached to develop action roadmaps through joint working groups.