This article is part of the 1st EURAXESS LAC 2025 quarterly newsletter (March 2025). Read the full PDF version of the country profile HERE.
Located in the South Caucasus region, Armenia is at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, making it a key hub for regional collaboration. It shares borders with Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia; it is easily accessible from major cities. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, and in 2025, the city will celebrate its 2,807th anniversary.
Introduction of the national research landscape
Armenia’s research landscape is characterised by a rich scientific heritage, a highly skilled diaspora, and a growing emphasis on technology and innovation. Historically, Armenia was a leading research and technology hub in the Soviet Union, particularly in fields such as physics, engineering, and computational sciences. Today, the country is working to modernise its research ecosystem, strengthen international collaborations, and enhance the commercialisation of scientific output. Education in STEM is strongly supported, and in recent years, the importance of science has been reassessed as a crucial factor for national, social and economic development.
Armenia offers various research support options, including institutional funding for universities and research centres, competitive grants for research teams, as well as special grants for international researchers, young scientists, and women in research. Armenia is an active participant in international research collaborations. As an Associated Country to the EU Horizon Europe (HE) programme and a full member of COST Actions, it provides numerous opportunities for research partnerships. The country is also a member of key intergovernmental organisations, including the Technology Centre (ISTC), and the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS).
Science, technology and innovation (STI) in Armenia
The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of the Republic of Armenia (RA MESCS) oversees the country’s research policies. The Higher Education and Science Committee (HESC) plays a key role in shaping research funding mechanisms and supporting innovation-driven projects. The state budget remains the primary funding source for research. Government investment in science has significantly increased, from 0.24% of GDP in 2018 to 0.43% in 2024. Ongoing reforms aim to enhance research quality, expand scientific collaboration, and modernise research infrastructures. To further strengthen the research capabilities, the government upgraded research institutions in 2024 by acquiring 100 large research equipment units.
The Armenian academic system consists of 60 universities, including 23 public institutions, and 83 research institutions. The research workforce comprises 3,584 researchers, of which 91 are foreign researchers. Armenia has a growing ecosystem of research and innovation, with its leading universities and research institutions playing a crucial role in advancing science, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Established in 1919, Yerevan State University (YSU) is the oldest public university in Armenia and the country’s primary research hub. YSU has made significant contributions to research in quantum mechanics, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. It houses multiple research institutes, including the Research Institute of Physics that has played a key role in quantum mechanics studies, while its biotechnology and biofuel innovation centre contributes to advancements in microbiology and bioengineering. With a high output of scientific publications, patents, and international partnerships, YSU continues to be the leading University in Armenia.
The American University of Armenia (AUA) brings a different approach to research and innovation, combining Western-style environmental studies and public health. The university has become a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, with many of its graduates founding successful tech startups in Armenia. AUA has several research centres and hosts a Centre of Excellence on Journalism, and plans to set up a Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs (ETICA) within EU HE ERA Chair Grant. Through the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Centre (EPIC) and various grant programmes, AUA has been empowering researchers to develop projects that have a direct impact on Armenia’s socio-economic development.
Founded in 1920, Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) has long played a key role in the advancement of medical education, biomedical research, and healthcare technologies in the country. The university has made significant contributions to clinical research, medical genetics, and pharmacology, often collaborating with international medical institutions and research centres. YSMU also actively participates in telemedicine development, artificial intelligence in diagnostics, and research into regenerative medicine. YSMU is a regular participant in EU Framework Programmes.
The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (NAS RA) is the leading scientific institution in the country, overseeing a network of 34 research institutes and other research organisations, and fostering scientific development. NAS RA coordinates research efforts, promotes international collaboration, and advises the government on science policy. It covers multiple scientific disciplines, including physics, biology, mathematics, social sciences, and humanities. NAS RA maintains cooperation with numerous scientific institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Research and technological development
In Armenia, research and technological development was one of the core sectors of the economy before the collapse of the USSR. A newly independent Armenia inherited a developed network of research and education institutions covering a range of sectors.
The State budget is the main source of funding for science, supplemented by targeted and grant-based funding. Spending on research and development planned for 2025 is around AMD 40.2 billion (~0.36% of GDP). The STI funding framework supports research through three main programmes. Basic funding: foundational support for research institutions, ensuring the maintenance and development of essential scientific infrastructure and capabilities. Targeted funding: focused on national priority areas, this programme allocates resources to projects that align with Armenia’s strategic research objectives, fostering advancements in key disciplines. Grant funding for research teams: encouraging collaborative research, this programme offers competitive grants to teams proposing innovative projects across various scientific fields.
Thanks to increases in the State budget for science, RA HESC launched several grant programmes aimed at integrating foreign researchers into the Armenian research community, further ‘internationalising’ research, and consolidating research potential at the national level. Around 20 types of grant programmes are available under State funding, including a special call for the empowerment of women in research.
The Government consistently supports STI projects to boost scientific excellence, strengthen international networks, and regionalise scientific-technological activities focusing on innovation-related aspects. One such project is the Centre for the Advancement of Natural Discoveries (CANDLE), which uses third-generation synchrotron light source for fundamental, industrial and applied research in biology, physics, chemistry, medicine, material and environmental sciences.
Innovation and business enterprise sector
Armenia is actively fostering a dynamic innovation ecosystem, ranking competitively in global innovation indexes. It has made notable progress in innovation, ranking 63rd in the Global Innovation Index 2024. This marks an improvement in its position, solidifying its place among the top 70 most innovative economies worldwide.
The business enterprise sector in Armenia is growing rapidly. Government actively supports R&D-driven startups and the commercialisation of research by offering tax incentives to stimulate business growth and attract investment across multiple sectors. The country has an emerging startup ecosystem, particularly in AI, biotech, and IT sectors. The IT and high-tech industries are expanding, with companies such as Synopsys Armenia leading semiconductor design and software development.
Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) is Armenia’s leading innovation and research agency, fostering business-led innovation in high-tech sectors and promoting regional advancement. EIF creates a productive environment for innovation and startup growth, boosting the competitiveness of IT and high-tech companies while stimulating foreign and direct investment (FDI) and global partnerships. Its projects cover all aspects of industry development – from nationwide ICT policy and global market representation to tailored startup services, skill development, and research. EIF connects multinational corporations, startups, public institutions, and international organisations to drive excellence in IT and engineering. With 23 years of experience, EIF has led industry studies, startup acceleration, R&D, training, and public-private-partnership (PPP) projects, and established venture funds, tech parks, and innovation centres. EIF also fosters an entrepreneurial culture and startup incubation within Armenia’s higher education institutions. Three noteworthy projects include the Engineering City, Innovative Solutions and Technologies Centerand Microsoft Innovation Centre Armenia (see boxes). Other initiatives are the Armenian-Indian Centre for Excellence in ICT (AITC), tech centres in Gyumri and Vanadzor, Start-up Grant Programmes, Cybersecurity Incubator and R&D Lab, National Supercomputing Centre of Armenia, R&D Ecosystem Development Programme, Science Incubation Programme, and many others.
Why choose Armenia for research?
The country offers a strong tradition in STEM fields, opportunities for international researchers, modernised research infrastructure, a collaborative research ecosystem, and a rich cultural and scientific heritage. Armenia also provides world-class resources such as the Matenadaran, a major centre for ancient manuscript studies. Scenic and cultural attractions, including Lake Sevan, the Greco-Roman temple of Garni, the UNESCO-listed Geghard Monastery, and many others add to the appeal. Armenia is also known for its diverse cuisine and unique culinary experience. The country’s food culture is deeply rooted in hospitality, making it an inviting destination.
In addition to its strong research environment, Armenia’s business and enterprise sector is expanding rapidly, driven by a growing startup ecosystem, Government support for innovation, and increasing FDI. The country has become a regional hub for IT and biotech industries, providing opportunities for collaboration between academia and the private sector.
Scientific diasporas in EURAXESS Worldwide (EWW) hubs
Around 7 million Armenians reside abroad. The Armenian scientific diaspora plays a crucial role in advancing global research collaboration, with over 100 distinguished foreign members of NAS RA contributing across various disciplines around the world, including 33 members in EWW countries: USA (27), Canada (2), Japan (1), South Korea (1), Australia (2). They serve as key partners in advancing scientific research, education, and innovation by fostering international collaborations, mentoring young researchers, and facilitating knowledge exchange. Through joint projects, academic guidance, and technological expertise, they contribute to Armenia’s global scientific integration while strengthening ties between Armenian institutions and leading research centres worldwide. Armenia actively leverages its global diaspora to attract investment, expertise, and collaboration in research fields. Programmes such as the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) facilitate diaspora-led innovation projects.
Contacts
National Contact Point for EU Horizon Europe
Scientific and Innovation Partnership Assistance Centre (SIPAC) was established by HESC MESCS RA as a foundation to support the Government’s science internationalisation efforts and facilitate international scientific cooperation. SIPAC serves as National Contact Point of the EU’s HE Programme and supports the participation of Armenian research teams and science-intensive organisations in European and international programmes.
EURAXESS Armenia is part of a European Commission initiative to support mobile researchers through its Service Centres and Contact Points. SIPAC is the EURAXESS Service Centre of Armenia and together with EURAXESS Contact Points including Yerevan State University, Yerevan State Medical University and International Scientific-Educational Centre of NAS RA forms EURAXESS Armenia Network which offers personalised assistance and support to incoming and outgoing researchers and their families, as well as resources to support their professional development.