Ecosystem platforms > SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM

FAST

DISCOVERING THE FUTURE

Armenia’s current STI standing is currently low to middling —a fact reflected in the country’s STI rankings: Armenia ranks 61st among 131 countries on the Global Innovation Index 2020, with notable comparative deficits in its human capital and research components. It nevertheless performs above its expected level of development, rendering it an Innovation Achiever. This ranking reflects a scenario in which Armenian expenditure on both education and R&D is weak.

 

Thus, to advance scientific discovery, drive innovation and incentivize inventions, to transform Armenia into a science-driven innovative country by 2041, The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST) was initiated by Ruben Vardanyan and co-founded by RVVZ Foundation and Noubar Afeyan, the Ayb Educational Foundation, “Luys” cultural, scientific and educational foundation and high-tech and innovations entrepreneur Artur Alaverdyan.

FAST — The Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology

FAST is focused on harnessing scientific, technological, and financial resources within national and international communities for the creation of an ecosystem beneficial for Armenia’s advancement as a nation. The systems approach allows FAST to conceptualize Science, technology & innovation (STI) in Armenia as a dynamic ecosystem that rests on three core pillars: Education, Research and Commercialization.
FAST’s vision is Armenia’s transformation into a top 10 global innovator nation and a top 5 Data Science and Artificial Intelligence innovator by 2041.

The world is a limitless sea of possibility — an ocean therefore of opportunities available to Armenians looking for their own share of global prosperity.


Armen Orujian, Founding CEO, FAST

ACHIEVEMENTS / RESULTS

EXPLORING THE LANDSCAPE

  • 21 studies produced
  • 8 major reports produced by international organizations with our contribution

INCUBATING SOLUTIONS

  • 47 program concepts produced
  • 31 programs implemented
  • 6k+ beneficiaries engaged

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION

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Dear Visitor,

We are glad you are interested in the activities of the IDeA Foundation.

On this platform, you can learn about two-decades long thought, passion, commitment and hard work — all in pursuit of a more prosperous Armenia. The road has been long and reflections many. But we managed to achieve to a point where our work has left its mark on the lives of millions of people and we are really proud of it.

Our accomplishments are the fruit of a collective effort by hundreds of thousands of promoters and volunteers, tens of thousands of donors and supporters, hundreds of colleagues and dozens of founding partners. Together, we have shown what wonderous things can be achieved when people strive for realization of a common goal.

Allow our family, who was lucky enough to witness these remarkable achievements from the beginning, to express our sincere gratitude to numerous wonderful, caring, purposeful people and organizations that made all these achievements possible. We have the honor to present their successes and express our gratitude to them.

We have tried to present the key landmarks of our journey to a brighter Armenia, to chart the lessons learned, and some of the new approaches and initiatives they have forged — the 700 projects over the last 20 years.

We hope that learning about these works will be as pleasant for you as it is for us to tell about them.

But, more importantly, we would like to see you among those Armenians who will continue this path together with us in the future.

If a single community of like-minded people working towards the realization of a common vision of the future can achieve such a result, imagine what kind of changes can be made if the efforts of the entire nation were directed towards creation. Together we can dream.

And, together, we can make our dreams come true.

Thank You,

Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend