Applications for WCIT 2019 Lightning Rounds will be accepted until  the September 1

ArmInfo. This year marks the first time WCIT will host "Lightning Rounds" in its 40 year history.  Entrepreneurs and innovators will have a unique opportunity to  showcase their startup ideas before a plenary audience from the tech  community.

15 startups from around the world will have 3 minutes to  present their new ideas or innovative technologies. The lightning  Rounds will be split into 3 sets. Judges will choose presentations  which demonstrate innovation as well as potential for global  applicability and impact. The three most promising startups will be  awarded the "Armenian Technology Communities A-Prize" and $100,000 on  behalf of the entire High Tech Community of Armenia. Applications  will be accepted until the 1st of September, the official statement  of WCIT 2019 reports.

The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019), one of the  largest and most prestigious ICT events in the world, will be held in  Yerevan this year from October 6-9. The three-day congress will  gather over 2500 participants from around 70 countries: information  and communication technology leaders, CEOs and investors, policy  makers and government officials, academics, and technologists. This  year's theme is The Power of Decentralization: Promise and Peril.

"We want global solutions that will impact the world. A major  criteria for startups is that ideas presented should have global  applications, and make the world a better place to live. Selected  startups will have a unique opportunity to present their ideas in  front of 3-4 thousand people," explains Emma Arakelyan, WCIT 2019  Content Committee Member.

The Government of Armenia has declared IT a strategic area of focus.  The country's legislation fosters favorable conditions for foreign  direct investments in the tech sector. Furthermore, consistent  efforts are being made to promote the development of high-tech  innovations, cultivate ecosystems, and accelerate startups in the  industry. The ICT sector represents 7 percent of the national GDP.  Over 45 percent of the industry exports go to the USA and Canada, 25  percent to Europe, 11 percent to Asia. Over 900 ICT companies call  Armenia home, including globally recognized Picsart, Renderforest,  Softconstruct, Joomag, etc. 

To note, WCIT 2019 will be held in Yerevan on October 6-9, 2019. The  Congress is hosted by Armenia with the support and under the high  patronage of the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The World  Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) was established by the  World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA). Its main  organizing body is the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises  (UATE).