AUA Entrepreneurship and Innovation Conference

Name: AUA Entrepreneurship and Innovation Conference
Start: 2016-06-03T09:00:00+04:00
End: 2016-06-03T17:00:00+04:00

The first AUA Entrepreneurship and Innovation Conference is dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the American University of Armenia and the opening of AUA’s newest center, Entrepreneurship & Product Innovation Center (EPIC). The aim of the conference is to explore Armenia’s entrepreneurial and innovation capabilities, challenges and opportunities for collaboration, improvement, and fulfillment potential. The conference will also examine AUA’s role in developing Armenia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and EPIC’s role as a platform to promote entrepreneurship education and improve innovative product development capabilities at AUA. During the conference, several panel discussions will be held, as well as presentations will be made by various entrepreneurial software and hardware companies.

Agenda

Time

Session

Room

9am – 10am

Registration & Innovation Showcase

PAB, 1st floor (bridge area)

10:20am – 11:10am

Panel: AUA as a Nexus of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

PAB, Manoogian hall

Moderator:	Carol Aslanian	(President, Aslanian Market Research)
Panelists:	Aram Hajian	(Dean of College of Science & Engineering, AUA)
	Samvel Shoukourian	(Scientific Leader, IT Educational & Research Center, YSU \| Senior R&D Manager, Embedded Test & Repair, Synopsys Inc.)
	Tom Samuelian	(Dean of College of Humanities & Social Sciences, AUA)
	Haroutune Armenian	(Associate Dean, Academic Programs, UCLA)
	Hovhannes Avoyan	(CEO and Founder, PicsArt)

11:15am – 12:30pm

EPIC opening ceremony and tour of facilities

MB, 5th floor

12:30pm – 1:30pm

Lunch & Innovation Showcase

AUA Cafeteria

1:30pm – 1:50pm

Keynote speech (by Aram Salatian, Director, NI Armenia)

PAB, Manoogian hall

1:50pm – 2:35pm

Panel: Innovation in Armenia

PAB, Manoogian hall

Moderator:	Jacqueline Karaaslanian	(Executive Director, Luys Foundation)
Panelists:	Artavazd Mehrabyan	(COO, PicsArt)
	Aram Salatian	(Director, NI Armenia)
	Yervant Zorian	(President, Synopsys Armenia)
	Arman Poghosyan	(CEO, Instigate Design)
	Arman Atoyan	(CEO, Arloopa)

2:35pm – 3:05pm

Company Presentations

PAB, Manoogian hall

Speakers:	Armine Saidi	(CEO, WiCastr)
	Arthur Shoukourian	(Professor, YSMU)
	Hasmik Khalapyan	(Academic Director, Armenian Virtual College)
	David Kocharov	(Dept. Director, Synergy)
	Arsen Hakhumyan	(Professor, YSU)
	Levon Mouradian	(Professor, Sci. Director of Ultrafast Optic Laboratory, Faculty of Physics, YSU)

3:05pm – 3:20pm

Coffee break & innovation showcase

PAB, 1st floor (bridge area)

3:20pm – 4:05pm

Panel: Entrepreneurship in Armenia

PAB, Manoogian hall

Moderator:	Raffi Kassarjian	(Executive Director, Monitis)
Panelists:	Bagrat Yengibaryan	(Director, EIF)
	Yervand Sarkisyan	(Co-founder and Partner, Granatus Ventures)
	Karen Vardanyan	(Executive Director, UITE)
	Vahan Chakarian	(President, TSD)

4:05pm – 4:30pm

Company Presentations

PAB, Manoogian hall

Speakers:	Armine Mkrtchyan	(VP Organizational Development, BetConstruct)
	Vigen Sanahyan	(CEO, YeCup 365)
	Gevorg Safaryan	(Director, LimeTech)
	Artur Khojabaghyan	(CEO, AugmentAr)
	Yeva Hyusyan	(CEO, SoloLearn)

4:30pm – 5:20pm

Panel: Armenia’s innovation needs and challenges

PAB, Manoogian hall

Moderator:	Yervant Zorian	(President, Synopsys Armenia)
Panelists:	Berge Setrakian	(President, AGBU)
	Manuk Hergnyan	(CEO, Granatus Ventures)
	Mesrop Aramyan	(Chairman, Ayb School)
	Armen Baldryan	(CEO, Unicomp)
	Vache Gabrielyan	Vice Prime Minister, RA Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms