Armenia builds EU-funded tech campus

Armenia is pushing ahead with the expansion of its technology and education infrastructure. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the EU-Tumo Engineering and Applied Sciences Complex (EUCC) on February 24. The €42.5 million project aims to create a regional STEM hub near Yerevan.

The 18,000-square-meter complex, designed by the internationally renowned architectural firm MVRDV, will house TUMO Labs, research and application laboratories, co-working spaces, a conference center, and office space. In addition, a branch of the French programming school "42 Yerevan" will be established there.

The aim is to strengthen Armenia's role as a regional technology center and to provide new impetus for investment, business cooperation, and practical training.

EU funding for innovation agenda

The European Union is supporting the project with €12.5 million as part of the "EU for Innovation" program. The funds will go to the Simonjan Educational Foundation and underscore Armenia's efforts to specifically expand technical education and innovation.

At the ceremony, Pashinyan emphasized the central role of education for social progress. The aim, he said, is to "bring the future into the present" and make high-quality education accessible to all.

Since 2020, TUMO Labs and 42 Yerevan have trained thousands of students and implemented more than 55 projects in collaboration with local and international partners. The new complex will bring these activities together and further consolidate Armenia's position as a regional center for applied science and technology.

This article was produced in cooperation with our partner bne intelliNews.