ArmInfo.Today, it is no longer possible to develop innovations based on platform technologies, which Armenian startups used for a long time to develop applications. A similar assessment was voiced by co-founder and managing partner of Granatus Ventures, Manuk Hergnyan, during a panel discussion on the topic "Strengthening science: A bridge between science and business" as part of the "Days of Science and Business 2023" conference.
In this vein, he noted that today start-ups should be developed through the commercialization of intellectual property products. "But this path is absent in Armenia for a number of reasons," Hergnyan emphasized. In this context, he pointed to the low flow of applications for registration of intellectual property products. In particular, the head of the Granatus Ventures noted that in 2011, only 211 applications for patent registration were submitted in Armenia, and according to the latest data, this figure has dropped to 71. At the same time, he pointed to the deterioration of Armenia's position in the global innovation ranking, where our country ranked 59th in 2017, but today we have dropped to 72nd place.
In connection with the created situation, as Manuk Hergnyan mentioned, a decision was made to establish a second fund, investing in knowledge-intensive startups that solve global problems, for example, in the field of healthcare.
"And since it is difficult for us to find startups that can offer international solutions in this industry, we took a different route by investing in a foreign company, but transferring part of their processes to Armenia," Hergnyan said, noting that for this there were also international specialists are involved. "That is, this is one of the options proposed by the private sector. But nevertheless, this direction requires systemic solutions," he emphasized.
