ArmInfo. Creation of an R & D center (Research & Development) for Philip Morris in Armenia is an issue of one or two years. This was stated in a conversation with the correspondent of ArmInfo by the manager for Corporate relations "Philip Morris Armenia" (PMA) Vahe Danielyan on the Fields of the Engineering Forum-Exhibition, held on June 24 in Vanadzor Technology Center.
According to him, such a model for the formation of the research center will be the first in the CIS in its format, after the existing R & D centers of the PMA in Singapore and Switzerland. In particular, Danielyan noted that the innovative center of the PMA will initially be created in the engineering city, which, within the framework of cooperation with Armenian technology companies, will try to introduce its experience to Armenia by conducting in-depth scientific researches of different disciplines, in particular, chemistry, biology, physics, in the field Mathematics, thermodynamics, engineering, etc. "At the final stage, this center will become a center for the production of prototypes," he stressed, referring to the agreement with the government of the Republic of Armenia.
In this regard, Danielian recalled that earlier the company Philipp Morris Armenia signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Armenia. "This is not just cooperation, fixed on paper. A supervisory group of the government has already been set up, which monitors the ongoing work on a monthly basis. In particular, specialists will come to our center abroad, explore scientific directions and try to connect them with Armenian centers," he explained. According to Danielyan, the Enterprise Incubator Foundation will coordinate and systematize the Center's work in the Engineering City. He informed that the government is preparing a decision on the allocation of land for the construction of buildings, and the World Bank will provide financial support for the preparation of infrastructures. In a conversation with ArmInfo correspondent, the head of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation Bagrat Yengibaryan noted that at the first stage 10 companies, from which 6 are Armenian, will work in the engineering city. A total of 30- 35 companies are expected to be involved. According to him, construction will take about 2 years, and the full "launch" of the city of 40 buildings and structures is planned in 4 years. Earlier Yengibaryan during the press conference noted that the preliminary cost of construction of an engineering town near Bagrevand is about $ 20 million. The town will be built on an area of 3 hectares. To note, the organizers of the Engineering Forum-Exhibition in Vanadzor were the Enterprise Incubator Foundation, the Government of Armenia, the regional administration of Lori and the program "Promoting SME Development in Armenia." The forum was attended by 26 technology companies, including National Instruments, Nairi-Tech, Elpida Electronics, UAV lab, Anod, Sezam, Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics and Yerevan Research Institute of Communications, etc., who presented their developments and solutions. More than 200 people from Yerevan and the regions of Armenia visited the forum-exhibition. The event was aimed at holding discussions on global trends in the development of engineering, the problems of engineering education and the business environment. During the forum, the heads of large engineering companies and representatives of educational institutions made moderators and speakers.