THE FIRST IN THE REGION MICROSOFT INNOVATION CENTRE TO BE OPENED AT STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
ArmInfo
2009-12-28 12:27:00
ArmInfo. The first in the region Microsoft Innovation Centre will
be opened in the middle of 2010 at State Engineering University of
Armenia. The relevant agreement was signed today by Armenian Economy
Minister Nerses Yeritsyan, director of Microsoft in Armenia Grigor
Barsegyan and Rector of Yerevan State Engineering University Vostanik
Marukhyan.
As Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan said, signing of the agreement is
a sample cooperation between the IT-industry and the University. ‘The
IT-industry co-financed by the government and supported by USAID
has itself creating a laboratory in the University, which will give
an opportunity for holding new scientific research and establishing
business-relations’, – the minister said and added that the government
and USAID are sure to have further success. In case of stability
of Microsoft Innovation Centre it will allow the IT companies to
transfer from outsourcing to development and later to sale of their
own production at international markets.
For his part, director of Microsoft Grigor Barsegyan said that it
is already for 3 years that the works on creation of the Microsoft
Innovation Centre in Armenia are underway. Becoming the single platform
the Centre will allow IT-specialists and students to develop via
various training courses held by experts of the world-known companies,
he said. ‘It is very much important that the government plays direct
part in the matter of the centre opening’, – he said and added that
budget of the Centre is more than $2 mln, which were allocated by the
Armenian government, Microsoft and USAID. The Innovation Centre will
be financed for 3 years. Then it should become self-financing.
State Engineering University Rector V. Marukhyan said a full equipped
center will be opened at the university to upgrade the qualification
of the teaching staff of the countries’ universities that may also
be involved in the training courses. In addition, special training
courses will be held at the Center for Microsoft certification.
Microsoft office in Armenia was founded in 2006. The National
Statistical Service of Armenia reports the services provided in the
information technologies sector in Armenia for Jan-Oct totaled 15.2
billion drams ($42.5 million), with annual decline of 3.9%.