The name of Kam Ghaffarian, a prominent entrepreneur in the global space and energy industries, has now been immortalized on the Walk of Fame of Technology Legends in Yerevan. Today, the American entrepreneur received the Republic of Armenia's State Award for Global Contribution to High Technologies (Global IT Award), and a symbolic star in his honor was unveiled at Engineering City.

Let's Work Together and Change the World for the Better

Speaking at the ceremony, Kam Ghaffarian called for joining forces to bring about positive change in the world and inspire the next generation to achieve new milestones.

“Let's work together and change the world for the better. That is what I hope for. And let's inspire our next generation to move toward that goal,” Ghaffarian said.

He also expressed his gratitude for the recognition, noting that the past few days had been filled with special occasions for him, including receiving the award and being granted an honorary doctorate.

“I love Armenia. I also really like this award, all the ceremonies, and the program itself. Thank you so much for this incredible recognition,” the entrepreneur said.

Beyond Symbolic Recognition

Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence, David Tadevosyan, expressed hope that Kam Ghaffarian's visit would mark the beginning of a long-term and fruitful partnership.

“Your life journey and what you have achieved are truly inspiring. We are very happy to see you here, and I dare say that I think this is only the beginning of our work together,” the minister told the entrepreneur during the ceremony.

Tadevosyan emphasized that Ghaffarian's visit was important for Armenia not only in terms of its image but also in practical terms, adding that the two sides were already working on an area of cooperation, the details of which could not yet be disclosed.

Speaking to reporters, Tadevosyan noted that the technology events taking place in Armenia in November help both bring the global technology industry closer to the country and introduce Armenia to the international community. He said this format was particularly important for the younger generation, as it helps challenge the notion that achieving international success necessarily requires leaving the country.

Walk of Fame to Bring Together Global IT Award Laureates

As Hovik Musayelyan, director of Synopsys Armenia and coordinator of the Global IT Award committee's executive board and international selection commission, explained, the installation of Kam Ghaffarian's star continued the initiative to establish a Walk of Fame of Technology Legends at Engineering City. It will bring together recipients of the international Global IT Award, which has been presented since 2010 to outstanding figures in the global technology industry for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of high technology.

Over the years, the award's recipients have included Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, microprocessor inventor Federico Faggin, Nest Labs founder Tony Fadell, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, and other prominent industry figures.

The first star on the walk was unveiled last year in honor of Analog Devices CEO Vincent Roche. It has now been joined by Kam Ghaffarian's star. According to Musayelyan, eight more stars are planned to be unveiled next year to honor award recipients from previous years.

Musayelyan emphasized that the Global IT Award holds special significance not only for the technology community but also for Armenia's international visibility, as it provides an opportunity to introduce the local academic and educational community and students to leading global technology figures.

An Investment in Armenia's Future

Armen Avetisyan, CEO of Viva, the award's main partner, described the unveiling of Kam Ghaffarian's star as a symbol of bold thinking, a broad outlook, and a willingness to push beyond conventional boundaries of what is possible.

He said the star was particularly symbolic because it honored a man whose work and ambitions reach to the scale of the universe.

Avetisyan noted that Viva had supported events associated with the State Award in High Technologies for 17 years. He emphasized that the award not only recognizes the achievements of global technology leaders but also serves as an important source of inspiration for the younger generation, showing that even seemingly unattainable goals can become a reality.

“For us, this is a kind of investment in Armenia's future,” the head of Viva emphasized.