Scientific research should not merely be a dream; it should also provide economic impetus. Armenia’s Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence Gevorg Mantashyan made this statement at a press conference with Kam Ghaffarian, the 17th recipient of Armenia’s 2026 State Award for Global Contribution to High Technologies (Global High-Tech Award).

According to him, Ghaffarian’s experience working at NASA and putting science into practice is inspiring in this regard and instills confidence that the use of high technology, innovation and creativity further enhances the effectiveness of various projects.

“This gives us confidence that what is sometimes considered a dream and not always achievable is entirely possible.

Ghaffarian’s company returned an object to the Moon 52 years after humans landed there. What is happening in space today represents a new industrial sector. We need to rethink our role in this context. If we can establish effective cooperation, we too can aspire to play a role in such projects. We are excited about this. We hope Ghaffarian’s visit will inspire private companies in Armenia to undertake new projects,” he emphasized.

According to him, one of Ghaffarian’s projects to build a private orbital station demonstrates the emergence of a new ecosystem in this field.

Viva Armenia CEO Armen Avetisyan said that Ghaffarian’s journey shows that dreams can be achieved through hard work, making it important to believe in one’s own strengths and capabilities.

He added that Ghaffarian, who witnessed the human landing on the Moon, later went on to lead the development of modern technologies for lunar exploration.

“It is symbolic that he is being welcomed today in Armenia, a country with rich scientific traditions where astronomy holds a special place. This has particular significance for Viva, which has supported the award ceremony for 17 years. If Ghaffarian’s story inspires even a few young people in Armenia and helps them realize their dreams, we will be able to say that our many years of effort have borne fruit,” Avetisyan noted.

Synopsys Armenia Director Hovik Musayelyan, who coordinates the work of the award committee’s executive board and the international selection committee, noted that 17 years ago, when the annual award honoring global legends was established, many people doubted it would succeed.

“Today, however, this award, presented to individuals who have brought revolutionary changes to humanity’s life, is of exceptional importance in raising Armenia’s profile,” he emphasized.

Musayelyan described the successful organization of the first award ceremonies as crucial, recalling that the inaugural award was presented in 2010 to Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, followed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and other outstanding figures.

A visit to Armenia is a mandatory requirement for the recipient; otherwise, the award is given to another candidate. Kam Ghaffarian is currently in Armenia to receive the award and participate in the Silicon Mountains Summit & Expo 2026.

Ghaffarian has founded a number of companies that are transforming the space and energy sectors and developing solutions to apply expertise in nuclear energy. These include X Energy, Intuitive Machines, Space and Quantum Space. He is also a philanthropist.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will present the award to Ghaffarian on November 5. He will be awarded an honorary doctorate from the National Polytechnic University of Armenia. In addition, a symbolic star bearing Ghaffarian’s name will be installed at Engineering City.