GYUMRI, DECEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The idea of founding a technopark (technocity) in the city of Gyumri (Shirak marz) with a significant strategic intervention will become a reality, Kevin Tompstone, a member of the working team developing the guidelines for fulfilling the Armenian government's initiative to turn Gyumri into a technocity, stated at the December 12 round table on the subject "The Business Model of Gyumri Technopark" held in Gyumri. K. Tompstone is an advisor of Shannon International company (Ireland), former director of Shannon Developments company and the chairman of the National Technopark. In his opinion, there are opportunities and potential for turning Gyumri into a technocity, although some obstacles exist as well, and it is necessary to use a strategic rather than a stage approach and act by a coordinated action plan in order to fulfil this initiative. During a presentation based on his studies, the expert said that in order to localize the experience of the Shannon Development National Technopark in Gyumri, the efforts of state bodies: the RA Ministry of Economy, the RA Ministry of Urban Development, Shirak regional administration and Gymri municipality should be combined with efforts of a) business structures: the Union of IT Enterprises of Armenia, Viasphere Technopark, Synopsys, National Instruments, Unicomp, Microsoft, Instigate, Armproject. Ericsson, Gyumri-based Selenit-Gold, Pul, Arshaluys, Msho Tghek, Analitsark and Shirak Airport companies; b) educational institutions: the Gyumri IT Center, the Turpanjian Foundation, the Gyumri branch of State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA), the Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute, the Polytechnic College, the Academy of Arts, and the American University of Armenia; c) state bodies providing business services and structures providing assistance to the state in this sector: the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center and its Gyumri branch, the Armenian Development Agency, the Enterprise Incubator Foundation, the USIAD-financed Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) Project, and the Technical Library of Gyumri. These efforts should be coordinated by the Gyumri Economic Development Office. K. Tompstone considered the existence of higher educational institutions with strong academic traditions and scientific heritage in Gyumri as a positive circumstance, however, considerable and efficient investments in buildings, infrastructures and research work will become the guarantee of the technopark's success, while the high speed Internet at reasonable prices is necessary for attraction of export-orientated investors. The expert expressed an opinion that the SEUA Gyumri branch should be moved to the area of the technopark. In general, it has been proposed locating the technopark of the technocity in the branch's building to be repaired, the business park - in the building of the idle Plant of Manufacturing Machinery, while the educational center and the special and recreational centers should be located in "Kumayri" historical and cultural preserve and the SEUA branch. The use of the preserve will enable to restore and develop its urban development environmnet. It is envisaged that the technocity will have status of a special economic zone, and investments for its foundation are assessed to amount to 55 million USD. By the concept of reconstructing the city of Gyumri into a technocity of the RA Ministry of Economy, thanks to the concept's implementation, tourism, ITs, engineering (modern urban development and construction technologies), fashion and textile industry, arts, jewelry making, craftsmanship will develop. The implementation of the concept will give an opportunity to ensure the development of not only Gyumri, but also other settlements in its agglomeration and turn Gyumri into a regional development center. The experience gained in Gyumri will be used to form a knowledge-based economy in Armenia. In the words of the RA minister of economy Nerses Yeritsian, Gyumri as a technocity will give first results in five years after its formation stage and will be completely established as such in 10-15 years, according to international experience. The minister said that agreements to set up educational laboratories in Gyumri have been reached with the Association of Three-Dimensional Modellers of Armenia and Sun Microsystems company. It is envisaged that in the near future the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) together with scientific institutions of Gyumri will conduct scientific studies with state budgetary allocations of 40 million drams (about 133 thousand USD). The minister informed those present that the World Bank and USAID have expressed a willingness to assist the Armenian government with turning Gyumri into a technocity. During the round table, the grant programs of the scientific research projects implemented by the indicated laboratories, as well as the projects implemented jointly by the EIF, the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation and the RA ministry of economy were presented. Speeches were made by the regional governor of Shirak Lida Nanian, Gyumri mayor Vardan Ghukasian, and the deputy minister of urban development Vatche Terterian.

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