The HTI Minister Visits \"Engineering City\": New Legislative Opportunities for Technology Companies Discussed

On February 13, RA Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, accompanied by Deputy Minister Ruben Simonyan, visited Engineering City to meet with representatives of the Engineering Association, led by Aram Salatyan, Chairman of the Board of the Engineering Association of Armenia, and Bagrat Yengibaryan, Director of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation.

During the meeting, discussions focused on maximizing the effective use of Armenia’s scientific potential and expanding the integration of technology across various sectors of the economy. Key topics included the development of public-private partnerships and the Ministry’s seven-year strategic program aimed at fostering growth in the tech sector.

A major point of discussion was the new regulations introduced in the Law on State Support for the High-Tech Sector and the Tax Code of the Republic of Armenia, designed to stimulate the development of the technology sector. In this context, the Government’s recently adopted decision “On Establishing the List of Types of Activities Subject to State Support for the High-Tech Sector” was reviewed. This decision enables companies operating in 32 high-tech fields to benefit from both state support and tax privileges, providing a significant boost to sectoral growth.

Another key topic was the decision “On Establishing an Expert Committee to Qualify Scientific Research and Experimental Development (R&D) Works, Defining the Procedure and Internal Structure of the Committee, and Setting the Criteria for R&D Qualification.” This decision establishes clear criteria for recognizing R&D activities, defines the procedures for qualification, and forms an expert committee to oversee the process. The internal structure and operational procedures of the committee will also be officially approved.

Aram Salatyan emphasized the importance of this legislative framework and reaffirmed the Engineering Association’s commitment to supporting the development and implementation of the law. Bagrat Yengibaryan, in turn, highlighted the tangible impact of these steps, stating that they will significantly contribute to the advancement of the technology sector.

The challenges encountered in the implementation process were also discussed, along with possible solutions and available options.

Representatives of engineering companies presented their activities, outlined current challenges, and shared their vision for future development. Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan expressed his readiness to continue discussions in individual formats to help resolve the raised issues and facilitate new partnerships.

Following the meeting, Minister Hayrapetyan toured the Engineering City, accompanied by Bagrat Yengibaryan and construction staff. During his visit to the Business Accelerator building, he was briefed on the progress of construction works and the upcoming developments within the initiative.