AGP Executive Report

RISE 2026 Defense & Tech Push: Armenia’s military-industrial ecosystem is getting a sharper focus as the MIC Committee and the General Staff move to inventory urgent needs, with officials arguing the country should target specialized niches to grow exports. Local Industry Scale-Up: At RISE Powered by Silicon Mountains in Yerevan, more than 40 defense firms showcased products, while the state-backed procurement program was cited as driving turnover growth and longer-term contracts. Semiconductor Boost: Microchip Technology received a U.S. export license to expand advanced FPGA development work in Armenia, signaling deeper high-tech engineering capacity. TRIPP Framework Signed: Armenia and the U.S. signed a TRIPP strategic cooperation framework, tying Armenia’s transit plans to U.S. involvement and regional connectivity. Water & Agriculture Funding: Armenia approved a EUR12m AFD grant for WAIDA to modernize irrigation and drinking water infrastructure, including upgrades in Syunik communities. Public Radio Modernization: The government allocated AMD 198.6m for Public Radio’s first phase of digital technical upgrades and renovation. Health & Fitness Standards: New fitness center and gym standards are set to be implemented to reduce sports risks and expand regional sports complexes. Geopolitical Pressure: Russia intensified pressure ahead of Armenia’s June 7 vote, including calls for an EU-vs-EAEU referendum and renewed import restrictions tied to political tensions. Armenia–Portugal Deal: An economic cooperation agreement is set to be signed, covering tech, science, energy efficiency, agriculture, transport, and telecoms.

AI & Tech Infrastructure: Armenia’s first AI factory powered by NVIDIA Blackwell infrastructure is already moving from plans to operations, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pointing to tangible results like an AI center at Yerevan State University and the new Gagarin facility. Defense Tech & Industry: At Yerevan’s RISE 2026 forum, Armenia’s high-tech leadership said the military-industrial complex has reached about 70 billion drams in annual turnover, backed by a three-year state procurement program worth 172 billion drams, while the Military Industry Committee targets future export growth and international integration. RISE 2026 Showcase: The June 3–4 event brought together 40+ Armenian companies and highlights how defense products are becoming an export-facing economic pillar, with officials noting most showcased equipment is already being supplied to the armed forces. Mining for High-Tech: ZCMC executives argued mining and metallurgy are the “bedrock” for Armenia’s tech and defense push, citing copper’s role in electronics and data centers and molybdenum’s use in defense-critical alloys. AI Misinformation Risk: A disinformation watchdog report warns that pro-Russian narratives can still leak into chatbot answers, with some tools repeating false claims as fact. Finance & Markets: Ameriabank won four AMX Awards, including recognition for corporate securities, infrastructure integration, corporate bond reporting, and depository operations, alongside expanded trading access via its MyInvest platform.

AI & Disinformation: NewsGuard says pro-Russian narratives about Armenia can slip into major AI chatbot answers, with some tools repeating false claims as fact. Defense Tech: At RISE 2026, Armenia’s defense industry exhibition highlights equipment already being supplied to the armed forces, with officials stressing legal requirements for testing before deployment. Humanitarian Research: An international team launched a study on the long-term social and identity impacts of Artsakh Armenian displacement, using 80–100 qualitative interviews across Armenia, Russia, and the U.S. Oncology Progress: A new report notes more Americans are living with cancer as targeted and immune-based drugs expand survival. Finance & Markets: Ameriabank won four AMX Awards, including top honors tied to corporate securities, corporate bonds reporting, and depository system operations. AI Infrastructure: Eleveight AI opened an AI data center in Armenia using NVIDIA Blackwell B300 tech for generative training and B2G/B2B services. Trade & EU Access: Armenia’s economy ministry is preparing subsidies to help fruit and vegetable exporters meet EU competitiveness costs after Russian restrictions.

AI Infrastructure in Armenia: Eleveight AI has opened an artificial intelligence data center in Armenia using NVIDIA Blackwell B300 tech, targeting generative training and services for B2G/B2B clients. National AI Megaproject: Firebird AI’s first shipment of NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs has arrived at Zvartnots, kicking off an ~18 MW “AI factory” phase in Hrazdan with reported ~$500M investment. Tech Sector Leadership: UATE appointed Edita Ghazaryan as Acting Executive Director, with the union now uniting about 300 tech companies. Defense Tech (Regional): Armenia’s military parade highlighted an Iranian air-defense system reportedly dubbed “Scorpion,” underscoring ongoing defense procurement diversification. Economy & Exports: Armenia’s economy ministry proposed subsidies to help fruit and vegetable exporters meet EU costs after Russian restrictions. Education Policy: Opposition claims border schools in Vayots Dzor are being built then slated for closure, raising alarms about future resettlement plans. US Tech/Policy Spillover: A US report alleges medical neglect in immigration detention, adding pressure to how governments handle health services.

AI Infrastructure: Armenia’s Firebird AI megaproject moved into its practical phase as the first shipment of NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs (1,792 of 6,144) landed at Zvartnots, targeting an 18 MW “AI factory” in Hrazdan and a ~$500M first phase. AI Factory Launch: Eleveight AI opened the region’s first AI factory in Gagarin, built on NVIDIA Blackwell B300 tech, with $70M initial investment and plans to expand capacity for training and public/private AI projects. Education + AI Access: Armenia’s education ministry signed with OpenAI and Firebird to provide 50,000 educational subscriptions for ChatGPT.edu and Codex starting in September. Tech Sector Governance: UATE appointed Edita Ghazaryan as Acting Executive Director, citing her role in expanding the union to 300+ tech companies. Trade Tech/Standards: Armenia’s economy ministry proposed EU export subsidies for GlobalG.A.P.-certified fruits and vegetables to offset costs after Russian restrictions. Regional Tech-Transit: AECOM will support TRIPP implementation, with the next step focused on surveying and route components.

AI Infrastructure Boom: Armenia launched its first AI factory in Gagarin, powered by NVIDIA Blackwell B300 GPUs, with plans to scale from 512 GPUs and 1.2MW toward 35MW capacity. Education AI Access: Through a partnership with OpenAI and Firebird, Armenia’s schools and universities will get ChatGPT.edu and Codex via 50,000 educational subscriptions starting in September. Digital Sovereignty & Policy: Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan said Armenia is prioritizing data processing infrastructure and cloud solutions, calling for responsible, auditable AI and human oversight. US-Armenia Tech Corridor: The US Embassy said AECOM is in Armenia to support TRIPP implementation, aiming to turn Armenia into a regional transit and economic hub. Cybersecurity Watch: A week’s security roundup flagged active exploitation of a PAN-OS GlobalProtect authentication bypass and a critical Gogs zero-day. Food Trade Disruption: Rosselkhoznadzor ordered Armenia to suspend veterinary certification for fish exports to Russia from June 2, except two inspected firms. EU Market Push: Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said Armenian greenhouse produce meets EU standards and is positioned for stronger EU exports. Capital Markets Tech Link: Armenia’s Securities Exchange is included in a new electronic trading link between Amman and Abu Dhabi via Tabadul. Heritage & Science: The Matenadaran opened an exhibition on an octagonal early Christian church discovered in Artashat, spotlighting new archaeological research.

AI in Armenia: Eleveight AI officially opened its first NVIDIA Blackwell B300 AI computing factory in the Gagarin community, a $70M push aimed at large-scale training and business, scientific, and engineering use. Defense tech: Armenia publicly unveiled its homemade jet-powered drone interceptor DDS-10K at the May 28 Republic Day parade, positioning local industry for air-defense intercept missions. Education & AI: Multiple reports say Armenia is moving ahead with ChatGPT Edu in schools and universities, alongside Firebird Labs’ new AI computing push. Trade & regulation: Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor ordered Armenia to suspend veterinary certification for live fish and fish products to Russia from June 2, with only two inspected plants temporarily cleared; Armenia’s Economy Minister also said EU export support programs are being prepared to offset restrictions. EU export push: Papoyan claims Armenian agricultural products meet EU quality standards, highlighting greenhouse output and Global G.A.P. certification. Regional tech & markets: Jordan and Abu Dhabi launched an electronic trading link via Tabadul, listing Armenia’s exchange among participating markets.

AI in Armenian schools: Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, OpenAI and Firebird signed a cooperation memo to bring ChatGPT Edu to 50,000 students, teachers and researchers in the first phase, with a focus on data protection and AI literacy. EAEU AI push: Leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union backed new trade initiatives and adopted a joint statement on responsible AI development at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana, alongside talks on digitisation and a unified digital space. Armenia–US tech and security roadmap: Armenia and the United States signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership charter covering security, economy and technology, including agreements tied to TRIPP and critical minerals. Food safety check on Jermuk: Armenia’s food safety regulator says lab tests found no deviations from standards in Jermuk mineral water products, after Russia suspended sales earlier this month. Regional services consolidation: An Armenian expert says authorities plan to “optimize” regional social infrastructure after June 7 elections, including school and hospital closures/mergers. Cultural tech for centenary: MOESCS discussed centenary plans for the Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet Theatre, including AI-assisted educational films with student participation.

AI in Education: Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, OpenAI and Firebird signed a cooperation deal to bring ChatGPT Edu to schools and universities, starting with access for 50,000 students, teachers and researchers, with data protection and governance built in. EAEU Responsible AI: Eurasian Economic Union leaders in Astana backed AI development and adopted a statement on responsible AI, alongside new trade talks and digital-integration steps. US-Armenia Tech & Security Charter: During Marco Rubio’s Yerevan visit, Armenia and the US signed a Charter on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership covering technology, AI, semiconductors, critical minerals and space, plus deeper security and cybersecurity cooperation. Food Safety Watch: Armenia’s food regulator said lab tests found no deviations in Jermuk mineral water products, even as Russia suspended sales and tightened import restrictions on some Armenian agricultural goods. Regional Services Reshuffle: An Armenian political scientist says authorities plan to “optimize” regional social infrastructure after June 7 elections, including school and hospital closures/mergers. Cultural Tech Touchpoint: A restored Minas Avetisyan mural is back at Zvartnots airport, reuniting travelers with Armenia’s modern art heritage.

AI in Education: Armenia launches ChatGPT Edu via a new MOESCS–OpenAI–Firebird memorandum, starting with access for 50,000 students, teachers, and researchers in 2026-2027, with data protection and governance built in. AI Infrastructure: Eleveight AI plans to open Armenia’s first Blackwell-powered “AI factory” data center on June 1, a $70M investment. EAEU Responsible Tech: EAEU leaders in Astana back responsible AI development and approve new trade steps, while Armenia’s deputy PM reiterates good-faith participation in the bloc. Digital Government: Armenia will roll out new secure procedures for exchanging state information system data between agencies, aiming to improve “one-time access” for citizens. Public Services Restructuring: An Armenian expert says authorities plan to “optimize” regional social infrastructure after June 7, including merging schools and closing hospitals. Food Safety & Trade: Jermuk mineral water tests show no safety deviations in Armenia, even as Russia’s restrictions on Jermuk and some Armenian produce continue. Election Disinfo: Fact-checkers debunk a viral claim about a secret “Curtain” program manipulating Armenia’s June 7 vote. Armenia–US Tech Charter: Armenia and the US sign a strategic partnership charter covering AI, semiconductors, critical minerals, digital economy, and space technologies. Elections Influence Watch: Russian-linked bot activity on X is reported as targeting Armenia’s parliamentary elections.**

Armenia–US Tech & Security Charter: In Yerevan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Armenian officials signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership charter covering technology, AI, semiconductors, critical minerals, digital systems, and defense cooperation, with TRIPP highlighted as a peace-and-connectivity roadmap. AI in Armenian Education: Firebird Labs launches with OpenAI support to bring ChatGPT Edu to Armenian schools and universities from 2026-2027, starting with 50,000 subscriptions for students, teachers, and researchers. EAEU Responsible AI Push: At the Astana summit, Armenia’s deputy PM and high-tech officials backed EAEU-wide principles for responsible AI, stressing human-centered use, cybersecurity, and shared standards. Armenia’s Data Exchange Rules: The government approved new procedures for secure, contract-based data exchange between state information systems to enable “one-time access” and safer digital services. EAEU Standards Meeting: EAEU members discussed technical regulation and standardization coordination, aiming to strengthen the “evidence base” behind rules and harmonize implementation. AI Hardware Leap: Eleveight AI plans a $70M “AI factory” in Armenia using NVIDIA Blackwell B300 chips, with operations set to begin June 1. Elections Info Security: Russia-linked actors reportedly deployed a bespoke bot network on X targeting Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections. Artsakh Displacement Study: An international project launched to study long-term identity and community impacts of Armenians displaced from Artsakh after 2020-2023.

Government IT Security: Armenia will roll out new procedures for creating, using, and managing secure state information system data exchange, aiming to fix isolated databases and support the “one-time access” principle for citizens. Responsible AI in EAEU: Deputy PM Mher Grigoryan and High-Tech officials presented Armenia’s approach to responsible, human-centered AI at the Eurasian Economic Forum, calling for shared ethics, transparency, cybersecurity, and human oversight. EAEU AI Push: The forum in Astana put AI into customs, transport, industry, and quality control, with leaders urging faster AI adoption and mutual recognition of digital signatures. AI Infrastructure Investment: Eleveight AI will launch Armenia’s first NVIDIA Blackwell-powered “AI Factory” data center on June 1, a $70M project in Gegharkunik. Data & Cloud Priority: Armenia also flagged data processing infrastructure and cloud solutions as key state policy for modern language models and AI systems. Food Safety Impact: Russia’s watchdog ordered a suspension of sales of 64.5M bottles of Jermuk mineral water after lab checks found no “deviations” but regulatory actions continue to affect exports. Defense Tech Spotlight: A Republic Day parade highlighted domestic developments, including Davaro’s DEV-3 reconnaissance and strike drone.

AI Policy in EAEU: Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan says Armenia backs a joint EAEU push on “responsible AI,” calling for ethics, security, transparency, algorithm auditability, and human oversight. AI Infrastructure: Eleveight AI will open Armenia’s first GPU-native “AI Factory” in Gegharkunik on June 1, a $70M data center powered by NVIDIA Blackwell B300 chips. Cloud & Compute Priority: Grigoryan also frames data-processing and cloud solutions as a state priority, linking modern language models to access to high-performance computing and stronger ties between education, science, and the labor market. Critical Minerals & Rare Earths: PM Nikol Pashinyan says Armenia and the U.S. will create a new geological map using modern tech, including space-based methods, to support AI-driven demand for rare minerals. U.S.-Armenia Geology Deal: The framework memorandum signed during Marco Rubio’s visit targets supply chains for extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earths. Nuclear Energy Warning: Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev warns Armenia could lose nuclear expertise if it abandons Russian technologies and says Yerevan must decide a post-2036 partner by 2026–2027. Defense Tech Push: At Republic Day, Pashinyan highlights expanded military-technical cooperation and says foreign contracts are already flowing to Armenia’s defense industry.

AI Infrastructure: Eleveight AI launched Armenia’s first NVIDIA Blackwell-powered “AI Factory” in Gagarin, a up-to-$120M GPU-native compute hub designed to scale to 35MW. Critical Minerals & Rare Earths: Armenia and the U.S. will develop a new geological map using modern and space technologies under the TRIPP framework, aiming to unlock rare-earth and critical-mineral potential for AI and advanced manufacturing. Geology & Supply Chains: The same TRIPP push targets extraction and processing supply resilience, with Washington exploring Armenia’s subsoil and supporting new geological services. Nuclear Energy Policy: Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev warned Armenia could lose nuclear know-how if it abandons Russian technology, urging a partner decision for post-2036 nuclear development by 2026–2027. Energy Security: An expert said replacing Russian gas could cost Armenia up to $400M per year, with Iran seen as the most politically acceptable option but requiring major infrastructure work. Defense Tech & Science Funding: Ahead of Republic Day, PM Pashinyan highlighted Armenia’s upgraded arsenal and said foreign contracts are growing, while calling for big increases in science funding and researchers’ pay. Cultural Tech & Heritage: Armenia’s Ministry plans higher museum staff salaries via certification, and three theaters will get specialized equipment (LED, sound, lighting) to boost performance. Ancient Engineering Research: A 2,700-year-old irrigation system near Armavir is shedding light on how Urartian-era water management shaped ancient agriculture and settlement.

Ancient Engineering Breakthrough: A new study in Antiquity maps a 2,700-year-old irrigation network near Armavir, showing how Urartian-era water management helped turn dry land into fields, gardens, and vineyards. Nairit Cleanup Funding: Armenia’s government reallocated budget money so a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund program can tackle environmental risks at the Yerevan Nairit chemical plant, including neutralizing chemical waste. Digital Government Upgrade: Armenia is rolling out the X-Road open-source platform for secure data exchange between state agencies, with mandatory integration for 35 agencies by July 1, 2027. U.S.-Armenia Tech & Transit Push: Secretary of State Marco Rubio and FM Ararat Mirzoyan signed TRIPP-related agreements in Yerevan, including a strategic cooperation framework and critical minerals supply-chain plans tied to the corridor concept. Nuclear Expertise Warning: Rosatom’s head says Armenia could lose nuclear energy know-how if it abandons Russian technology, urging decisions on a post-2036 partner soon. Education & Heritage: Armenia and the Museum of the Bible signed an LOI to promote Armenian Christian heritage via a permanent exhibition and joint research and programs. STEM in Schools: Armenian students won bronze at an international open biology olympiad in Sochi, with medals across theoretical, practical, and project stages.

US-Armenia Strategic Push: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan, signing a Charter on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advancing the TRIPP corridor plan with a framework agreement and a TRIPP Development Company concept, alongside supply and critical-minerals cooperation. Railway Concessions: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia will change the railway concession model to reduce sanctions-related constraints on development. Data Exchange Upgrade: The government approved using the X-Road open-source platform for secure data sharing between state agencies, with mandatory integration for government bodies until July 1, 2027. Critical Minerals for Tech: Rubio said the new minerals and rare-earth processing memorandum aims to strengthen Armenia’s economic independence and fuel innovation. Defense Tech Export: Armenia announced its first-ever weapons export, with attention turning to drones and related systems. Education & Science: Armenian school students won bronze at an International Biology Olympiad, and scholarship applications opened for the Koomruian Armenian Education Fund (US-based study). Diaspora Heritage: Armenia and the Museum of the Bible signed a cooperation letter of intent to promote Armenian Christian heritage, including research and digitalization. Elections & Media: Blogger Artak Avetisyan’s case was reclassified from inciting hatred to hooliganism, and Radio France Internationale launched an Armenian-language newsroom targeting youth and disinformation.