“NPUA innovation incubator” was established within the framework of the project “Enhancing innovation competences and entrepreneurial skills in engineering education (InnoCENS)” funded by the European Union Erasmus+ program at Armenian National Engineering Laboratories (ANEL) of National Polytechnic University of Armenia on June 8. 

NPUA rector V. Marukhyan, deputy rector G.Vardanyan, vice Rector for International Cooperation and Educational Reforms R. Argashyan, Stanislav Toshkov, program manager of International assistance/cooperation of European Union Delegation to the RA, “Erasmus Mundus” program coordinator Edita Soghomonyan and others were present at the opening ceremony of the center.

While introducing InnoCENS program, vice Rector R. Argashyan pointed out that the goal of the program is to assist and facilitate university-production cooperation and commercialization of innovative ideas. He hoped that the center will become a broad environment of business assistance to startups.

Stanislav Toshkov introduced the mission of the center in his speech. He highlighted that the goal of the project is to assist the development of innovative and entrepreneurial components in the educational programs of the universities, as well as to establish an open platform to encourage and commercialize innovative ideas of the university.

Edita Soghomonyan also welcomed the participants, and InnoCENS project coordinator Huaan Fan sent a video welcoming speech.

ANEL coordinator Amalya Mkhitaryan introduced the real goal of the newly-opened innovation incubator.

The activities of “NPUA innovation incubator” will target the assistance of innovative ideas for the youth as well as for the development of university-market relationships. Mission of the incubator is to assist startups and an environment comfortable for business idea development of innovative groups by means of knowledge provision and counseling.

Then, co-authors of three different startups, namely “Suitcase moving smart system”, “Eye detector for people driving cars” and “Engineering device to get alternative energy”, held their speeches and they will be the first to use the opportunities provided by the incubator.

University setting itself is a favorable eco-environment for the emergence of innovative ideas and their implementation. Currently, more and more young people tend to establish startups. The establishment of this center will somehow assist the implementation of similar dreams among university youth. The center will carry out more active works in this direction.