Armenian Technology centers managers visit Technology Park Ljubljana with EU support

From April 15-19, 2019 the managers and leading staff of Enterprise Incubator Foundation and Armenian Technology centers: Gyumri Technology Center, Vanadzor Technology Center and Engineering City, visited Ljubljana’s Technology Park in Slovenia.

The study visit took place in the framework of Support to SME Development in Armenia (EU-SMEDA) project and aimed at learning and knowledge transfer on business support and innovation ecosystem environment in Technology park of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

photo © EIF

Ljubljana’s Technology Park was established 2 decades ago and since then has proven to be the biggest and most impactful technology hub in Southeast Europe, serving as a home to 300+ member companies, innovative teams and individuals. It has sound experience in boosting the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems, knowledge commercialisation and globalisation in the country in close collaboration with the Government of Slovenia. As to date, the techno park is fully self-sustainable with steady contribution into country’s taxation system.

In the course of the short visit, the Armenian Delegation had the chance to meet the management and tenants of Ljubljana’s Techno park, learn on its commercial programmes and community, EU and nationally funded initiatives for supporting young entrepreneurs, boosting smart specializations and entrepreneurial pilot projects.

Furthermore, meetings were held with the Government of Slovenia: Ministry for Education, Science and Sports, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy, Slovene Enterprise Fund, the Municipality of Ljubljana.

On the last day of the visit, a Memorandum of Understating was signed between the Enterprise Incubator Foundation of Armenia and Technology Park Ljubljana for Cooperation in the fields of Information technology and communications, engineering, high-tech and innovation.

This is certainly a big success leading to joint technological skill development projects, joint ventures, research and development (R&D), collaboration between countries to empower development of Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering and many other technological fields in both countries. Furthermore, the MoU entails joint projects on startup support, acceleration and grant programmes, joint research, mission of experts and exchange.