Armenia continues to steadily strengthen its position on the global technology map. At the heart of this process is one of the ICT Employers’ Union’s largest annual initiatives, the Silicon Mountains Technology Summit, which since 2019 has become one of the key symbols of the sector’s identity and growth. This year marked the ninth edition of the summit, and its content, scale, and international reach demonstrate that Armenia is steadily claiming a higher place within the global technology ecosystem.

According to Eduard Musayelyan, Executive Director of the ICT Employers’ Union, the summit’s deeper mission extends beyond the professional community and is aimed at the country’s strategic future.

“We believe that technology must reach every community, every school, and every young person. We are preparing the next generation, a generation of artificial intelligence, who will be ready to become the technological pillars of our future.

The goal is to make Armenia one of the world’s most important technology hubs, so that we are known not only as an ancient country, but as a country where good robots are born,” he says.

From 150 Participants to 1,000 in Six Years

The first Silicon Mountains summit was held in 2019 at the Matenadaran, with just about 150 to 180 participants. Today, according to Musayelyan, the event has attracted 800 to 1,000 people, which he describes as “a fairly large figure” for Armenia.

“Over the years, we realized that demand was high. We grew both in quality and in content, and today we are able to attract the most interesting speakers and present the most relevant topics,” he emphasizes.

The driving force behind this growth, he says, is the exceptionally strong interest in artificial intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence Across All Sectors

This year’s Silicon Mountains summit focused on the anatomy of artificial intelligence. The topics were wide-ranging: from biotechnology to winemaking, from semiconductors to startups, from venture investment to educational innovation.

According to Musayelyan, this focus is no coincidence. The ICT sector can no longer be viewed as a separate, closed field, since today it is present in all industries. In the case of artificial intelligence, this is especially evident.

The Summit Expands to the Regions

For the second consecutive year, Silicon Mountains has also been held in Armenia’s regions, at the Gyumri Technology Center and the COAF Smart Center.

“Balanced regional development cannot be fully achieved in any country in the world. But if you do not pay attention to it, the situation becomes much worse. Our goal is to do everything possible to ensure that the regions also have access to technology,” Musayelyan explains.

He stresses that in the regions, the initiative goes beyond events alone. Community representatives and local companies are actively involved, helping to shape what he describes as an “unofficial but functioning” development strategy.

An International Dream: Silicon Mountains in Silicon Valley

The next major goal for the summit is international expansion.

“From the very beginning, we knew that if we wanted Silicon Mountains to truly become a global platform, it had to go beyond Armenia’s borders. Our biggest dream is to organize it in Silicon Valley,” says Musayelyan.

According to him, discussions in this direction are already underway, including with government institutions.

Global IT Award Laureates as Armenia’s Technology Ambassadors

Each year, the summit’s main speakers are recipients of the Global IT Award, scientists, engineers, and technology leaders with global influence.

This year’s keynote speaker was Vincent Roche, President and CEO of Analog Devices.

“You cannot simply invite people like this and bring them to Armenia. There must be a special approach and a special purpose. They visit the country, receive a high state award, tour a number of centers, and later become Armenia’s ambassadors in the technological world,” Musayelyan explains.

Such visits, he says, greatly contribute to Armenia’s international visibility.

“These people leave with strong impressions and share stories about our country’s capabilities. This is one of the most powerful ways to show that Armenia is not only an ancient and charming country, but also a rapidly developing technology hub.”

AI Education in Schools: The STEP AI Program

One of the ICT Union’s most important initiatives is the STEP AI program, which has already begun operating in 15 schools. The program is designed for students in grades 10 through 12 and includes Python programming, machine learning, and the fundamentals of artificial intelligence.

According to Musayelyan, introducing these skills at an early age allows students to adapt much more easily to the changing labor market. AI will eliminate certain professions, but those who understand the fundamentals and know how to use technology will become higher-level specialists, he believes.

Armenia’s Potential in Microelectronics and Complex Engineering Solutions

According to Musayelyan, Armenia has significant potential, particularly in microelectronics and chip design.

“The concentration of multinational companies in Armenia is much higher than in the rest of the region. This means these companies trust Armenia and understand that they can find highly skilled engineers and solutions to complex problems here,” he emphasizes.

Armenia, he adds, has long moved beyond the image of being a country of cheap labor. “Armenia is becoming a country that creates and exports high-quality technological products,” he says.