Titled “Uniting Ecosystems: Diaspora as a Catalyst for Franco-Armenian Tech Collaboration”, the gathering was organized by EU4Innovation East, reinforcing its mission to bridge Eastern Partnership (EaP) startup ecosystems with Europe’s leading innovation hubs.
Moderated by Julien Schmitt, Project Director of EU4Innovation East, the event opened with welcoming remarks from distinguished representatives:
- Cassilde Brenière, Deputy CEO in charge of operations, Expertise France, highlighted the impressive momentum of Armenia’s tech ecosystem and emphasized the importance of fostering stronger linkages between Armenia and European innovation networks—particularly within France.
- Gayane Manukyan, First Secretary, Armenian Embassy to France, followed with reflections on the deepening bilateral relationship between Armenia and France.
- Thibault Charlet, Programme Manager, Directorate General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighborhood, European Commission, underscored the European Commission’s commitment to initiatives that strengthen cross-border innovation.
- Florence Provendier, Coordinator of the Franco-Armenian Cooperation, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, spoke about the evolving collaboration between the two nations and expressed her deep interest in supporting its future growth.
The program featured a range of engaging presentations, including:
– An overview of Armenia’s investment climate and high-tech potential, delivered by Satenik Adamyan, Investment Promotion and Foreign Relations Manager at Enterprise Armenia. Ms. Adamyan introduced the role of her organization in promoting Armenia as an investment destination and elaborated on their role—alongside the Ministry of High-Tech Industry—in curating and managing the Armenian national pavilion at Viva Technology 2025.
– Highlights of upcoming key events and partnerships:
• SSS 2025 – Talent Generation Track, co-created with EU4Innovation East, was presented by Vardan Galstyan, Startup Ecosystem Coordinator at Seaside Startup Summit.
• Gateway to Europe Congress, was introduced by Ruben Osipyan, CEO of the Science & Technology Angels Network (STAN). Organized in partnership with EBAN, the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, and EU4IE, the congress will aim to strengthen Armenia’s access to European investment and markets.
• DigiTec 2025, Armenia’s premier regional tech exposition, was shared by Sargis Karapetyan, CEO of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE)
– A compelling pitching session showcased six dynamic Armenian startups that had exhibited at Viva Technology 2025: Burnwe, Hirebee.ai, Meluvis, Metric, NABIX Technologies, and VOLO.
This event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of EU4Innovation East, the French Embassy in Yerevan, the Armenian Embassy to France, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, and influential members of the French-Armenian community.
As ecosystems continue to intertwine, this initiative stands as a powerful reminder of how diaspora connections and shared ambitions can shape the future of European tech collaboration.
