Background (Global Context)
Maintaining a flow of talent, management, technical support, and new ideas is essential to sustaining a vibrant IT sector over time. To maximize the potential, an environment must be developed and nurtured that provides a visible path for scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, and talented managers and experts to follow to realize their ideas. This requires a partnership between government, education, private enterprise, donors, non-profit organizations, and business leaders. A system must be supported and coordinated that provides incentives and visibility for innovative approaches and new ideas from the laboratories through education, management, and commercialization of technology to government operations. Coordination and communication among the entities that create this system is paramount.
Current Situation in Armenia
Maintaining a flow of Armenian start-up initiatives through the Incubator to reach domestic and international markets and capital will require an innovation policy spearheaded by the Armenian Government that creates an environment that fosters innovation from “ lab to market.” Many of the components are already developing, such as new approaches to education, business development, government e-commerce projects, technology commercialization, and new support organizations. The challenge is coordinating these programs toward a common goal and visibility. The strength of the future IT industry in Armenia will depend on the quality of the innovation activity in the country, including advanced academic work and commercialization processes to utilize the knowledge created in products and services.
Target Outcome 13.1: Development of a National Innovation Policy as a Collaborative Effort Between Government, Education, and Business
Actions/Development Plans
13.1.1 Coordinate initiatives
The Advisory Council described in this document will set a priority on coordinating new initiatives that streamline processes and clear obstacles to new innovation.
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Promote new technologies that are targeted at improving processes.
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Create and maintain Web sites that showcase new ideas and solicit solutions to common problems.
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Promote wide access to information from international resources libraries.
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Attract international events that showcase new innovation.
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Establish new communications vehicles that are widely available.
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Streamline processes for technology commercialization and approvals.
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Streamline research and development process and approvals.
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Sponsor events.
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Raise public awareness of new innovations and their implementation.
Target Outcome 13.2: Create a Competitive Grant Program to Encourage Innovation
Actions/Development Plans
13.2.1 Establish grant programs
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Establish, in collaboration with donor organizations and foundations, grant programs targeted at fostering new innovation, including the following:
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New ICT products and services
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New education programs
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Communications innovation
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Administration of government services and programs
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Technology commercialization
The grants will range from $5,000-$25,000 and will be awarded on a competitive basis by an independent panel of experts from government, business, education, and non-profit organizations. Grant will be used to develop new ideas that benefit the Armenian community and provide visibility.
Target Outcome 13.3: Create an Innovation Center for Scientists to Test New Ideas
Actions/Development Plans
13.3.1 Create Innovation Center
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Create the Incubator’s Innovation Center to include both training and access to information for scientists and researchers in the form of a resource library (Web-based) that can be used to test their ideas against similar research underway both inside and outside of Armenia.
The Innovation Center within the new Incubator will include:
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Assistance with technology assessment
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Assistance with marketing data
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Resource libraries
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Access to publications that showcase new innovation
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Training in technology assessment
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Training in technology commercialization
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Access to industry experts and mentors globally
Target Outcome 13.4: Develop a “Junior Entrepreneur” Program and a “Future Scientist” Program
Actions/Development Plans
13.4.1 Develop programs
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Utilize grants to sponsor “Junior Entrepreneurs” and “Future Scientist” programs targeted at promising K-12 students. The new Associations of ICT businesses and the Advisory Councils will oversee these programs, which will sponsor events such as:
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Linkages to similar organizations worldwide
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Travel for selected students
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Sponsorship to develop new ideas
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Summer internships
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Sponsoring events and media exposure
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Awards and scholarships
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Yearly banquets and high visibility events with business leaders and government officials
Target Outcome 13.5: Science Fairs
Actions/Development Plans
13.5.1 Conduct science fairs
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Conduct yearly science fairs. K-12 students from all regions of Armenia will showcase their new ideas in a competition. Scholarships wills be awarded to the top ideas in several categories and sponsorships will be awarded for travel and participation in international science fairs. Judges will consist of both Armenian and international panels.
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