National Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia

What National Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia does

The National Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NCIE) is a State Non-Commercial Organisation (SNCO) established on April 23, 2009, under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. It functions as the country's statutory national hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and scientific-technical information coordination, with four regional branches in Gyumri, Vanadzor, Hrazdan, and Kapan supplementing its Yerevan headquarters (co-located with the State Register of Legal Entities). NCIE's service portfolio spans the Technology Transfer Office (managing IP for universities and research organizations), a Scientific and Technical Library holding approximately 19.2 million bibliographic entries and 21.9 million document copies with access to international databases (EBSCO, SpringerLink, BioONE, Britannica), the Salary Reimbursement Program (subsidizing 20-70% of salaries up to 2,000,000 AMD per month for highly qualified foreign-recruited specialists under Government Decision No. 355-L), the Brain Gain diaspora engagement initiative, an NGO Database digitizing Armenian non-profits, SME support services including business relocation advisory, and annual flagship events such as INNO Armenia National Week and the '100 Ideas for Armenia' competition.

NCIE operates as a free, government-funded public service with no fee-based revenue; its budget flows from the Ministry of Economy and it does not charge for consultation, library access, technology transfer support, or program participation. Its distribution model combines direct in-person consultation at five physical locations, partnerships with government ministries (Ministry of High-Tech Industry, Central Bank), and international cooperation agreements with QazInnovations (Kazakhstan), GITA (Georgia), the Austrian Space Forum (AMADEE-24 Mars mission), Repat Armenia, HDIF, UNHCR, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs. Its core customer segments are Armenian SMEs, scientists and research institutions, diaspora Armenians and repatriates, NGOs/foundations, and internationally recruited highly qualified specialists. Leadership was restructured in 2021 with the appointment of CEO Hayk Margarian, a diaspora specialist, who has driven expansion of programs and international partnerships.

Name

National Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia

Legal name

National Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NCIE)

Website

https://ncie.am

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NCIE is Armenia's government-mandated national innovation center under the Ministry of Economy, providing free technology transfer, scientific library services, salary reimbursement subsidies, SME advisory, and diaspora engagement through five offices and international partnerships across the CIS region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Yerevan

HQ country

Armenia

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding / Public Budget: NCIE is a state non-commercial organization (SNCO) under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. It operates on government-allocated budget and does not charge fees for its core services including consultation, library access, technology transfer support, and business support programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NCIE is a government-mandated State Non-Commercial Organisation providing free innovation and entrepreneurship support services to SMEs, scientists, startups, and diaspora Armenians. Its core offerings include the Technology Transfer Office for IP management and commercialization, the Salary Reimbursement Program (covering 20-70% of salaries up to 2,000,000 AMD for highly qualified specialists), a Scientific and Technical Library with approximately 19.2 million bibliographic entries, an NGO database, the Brain Gain diaspora program, and SME advisory services. All services are provided free of charge and funded through the Armenian state budget under the Ministry of Economy.

Product overview

NCIE operates as a government-affiliated organization under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, offering a portfolio of services including the Technology Transfer Office (managing IP and facilitating commercialization), the Salary Reimbursement Program (covering 20-70% of specialist salaries up to 2 million AMD), a Scientific and Technical Library (with 19+ million documents and patent databases), the NGO Database (digitizing Armenian organizations), the Brain Gain diaspora attraction program, SME Support Services (business relocation, matching, and advisory), and annual events like INNO Armenia National Week. The organization connects science, business, and government through its core services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Technology Transfer Office: First governmental technology transfer office to manage and protect intellectual property of scientific organizations in Armenia, facilitating transfer of IP to business and industry.
• Brain Gain
• INNO Armenia

Products and services

• Technology Transfer Office (TTO) A governmental office managing and protecting intellectual property of Armenian scientific organizations (universities, research organizations, entrepreneurship centers), facilitating technology transfer to business and industry through licensing and patenting. It is the first governmental technology transfer office in Armenia.
• Salary Reimbursement Program State program providing salary compensation (up to 2,000,000 AMD, covering 20-70% of salaries) to organizations that hire highly qualified specialists who have lived abroad for at least 12 of the last 30 months.
• NGO Database A comprehensive digitized database of all funds and NGOs in Armenia to facilitate connections between international and diaspora partners and local organizations, improving trust and information flow in the sector.
• Scientific and Technical Library A governmental vocational library with approximately 19.2 million bibliographic entries and 21.9 million document copies, providing free and open access to 18 million patent documents, international databases (EBSCO, SpringerLink, BioONE, Oxford Reference Online, OARE, Britannica Online Encyclopaedia), and electronic library services. Members of the Electronic Library Consortium of America (eLCA) and ELNIT.
• Brain Gain Program A program led by Peter Mitchell to attract expertise, experience, and world-best practices from diaspora Armenians and non-Armenian professionals to contribute to Armenia's development through NCIE's initiatives.
• SME Support Services Comprehensive information and consultation services for businesses seeking to establish operations in Armenia or transfer operations from overseas, including free guidance on state support measures, taxation, accelerator programs, banking operations, business matching, and networking activities.
• INNO Armenia National Week Annual national innovation and entrepreneurship week bringing together local and foreign entrepreneurs, scientists, diplomats, and international specialists for dialogue between business, science, and government.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 scientists and entrepreneurs supported from different countries in the past year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Austrian Space ForumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 April 2023Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Austrian Space Forum and Armenian Aerospace Agency CJSC during INNO Armenia-2023 for implementing the AMADEE-24 Mars Analogue Mission in Armenia. NCIE played a central role in facilitating this partnership, which is strategically important for Armenia's aerospace sector.
• QazInnovations (National Agency for Development of Innovations, Kazakhstan)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2023Memorandum of Cooperation and Understanding signed between NCIE and QazInnovations on February 3, 2023, during the Digital Almaty 2023 International Forum. The purpose is to foster business-science collaboration and establish regular contacts between scientific organizations and entrepreneurs. Main objectives include: establishing interaction with existing innovation system institutions; promoting innovative projects; providing access to educational, incubation, and acceleration programs; joint development of priority innovative projects.
• Tumanyan.Online (Armenian Language School)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2023Memorandum of Cooperation signed between NCIE and Tumanyan.Online to popularize the Armenian language among diaspora Armenians, repatriates, and entrepreneurs who moved to Armenia. The memorandum aims to strengthen national security through language popularization projects and promote repatriation.
• HDIF (Homeland Development Initiative Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2022HDIF, founded by Sir Timothy David Strait, co-organized the Christmas Bazaar 2022 with NCIE. HDIF serves as the main organizer of the event, with NCIE as co-organizer, bringing together repatriates, ex-pats, and refugees.
• Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs (Armenia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive cooperation agreement on developing a roadmap for information exchange and support for diaspora Armenian entrepreneurs. Cooperation areas include: state salary compensation program for highly qualified specialists, 'Diaspora Youth Ambassador' program, and development of a database of projects requiring investment.
• GITA - Georgian Innovation Technology AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCIE CEO Hayk Margarian met with GITA President Avtandil Kasradze and Project Manager Tornike Jobava in Georgia during GITI-2022. Georgia expressed readiness to share its technology transfer and commercialization experience, including legal regulation. Preliminary agreement was reached on forming a common ecosystem for startups.
• UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNHCR co-organized the Christmas Bazaar 2022 with NCIE, HDIF, and other partners, providing a platform for refugees (from Artsakh, Syria, Lebanon) to showcase their products and connect with the Armenian community.
• Repat ArmeniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepat Armenia co-organized the Christmas Bazaar 2022 and is a key partner in NCIE's brain gain and repatriation support initiatives. Vartan Marashlyan is co-founder and Executive Director of Repat Armenia.
• Impact Hub YerevanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpact Hub Yerevan co-participated in the Christmas Bazaar 2022 panel discussions on repatriation. Sara Andjargolyan is co-founder of Impact Hub Yerevan.
• Mission Armenia (Charitable Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission Armenia charitable organization distributed humanitarian aid collected at the Christmas Bazaar 2022 to refugees, in partnership with NCIE and other organizations.
• Enterprise Armenia (National Center Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnterprise Armenia is listed among NCIE's quick links and is a partner organization supporting the center's business development activities.
• The Founder InstituteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThrough the facilitation of Timothy David Strait and Founder Institute director Narine Kotikyan, NCIE CEO Hayk Margarian met with members of the Finnish East European and Central Asian Business Club to discuss joint project implementation.
• Union of Advanced Technologies Enterprises (UATE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUATE initiated the ICT Leaders Meeting 2023 forum, with NCIE participating as a key speaker on business support programs. Hayk Chobanyan, UATE's General Director, urged Armenian educational institutions to participate in the AMADEE-24 Mars mission preparations.
• Armenian Aerospace Agency CJSCflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerArmenian Aerospace Agency CJSC signed the AMADEE-24 Mars mission memorandum with the Austrian Space Forum during INNO Armenia-2023, facilitated by NCIE. Mher Mehrabyan is the head of the agency.
• Ministry of Economy of the Republic of ArmeniacoreOthersNCIE operates as a state non-commercial organization (SNCO) under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia. The Ministry oversees NCIE's budget, programs, and strategic direction.
• Grants and NGO FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCIE has an NGO database initiative aimed at connecting international and diaspora partners with Armenian NGOs and funds, improving trust and information flow in the sector.
• Space 59 (Sewing Training Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace 59, a sewing training center established under the UNIDO Armenia project on light industry modernization, was visited by Timothy David Strait and NCIE, representing NCIE's support for vocational training and entrepreneurship.
• ICT Business Council (Georgia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICT Business Council co-organizes the annual GITI cybersecurity and IT innovation conference in Georgia since 2008. NCIE participates as a key speaker and international partner.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Repat Armenia: Armenian nonprofit supporting diaspora repatriation through relocation services, community events and entrepreneurship programs. Comparable as a key diaspora-engagement partner running complementary brain gain initiatives; not a direct competitor.
• Union of Advanced Technologies Enterprises (UATE): Armenian association of high-tech companies that co-initiates ICT forums and policy dialogue. Comparable as an Armenian ecosystem partner with overlapping mandate around ICT and innovation ecosystem development; not a direct service competitor.
• Homeland Development Initiative Foundation (HDIF): Foundation co-organizing events with NCIE and supporting diaspora-led development projects in Armenia. Comparable as a partner organization in the Armenian diaspora and entrepreneurship ecosystem; not a direct service competitor.

Direct peers

• QazInnovations (National Agency for Development of Innovations, Kazakhstan): National innovation agency of Kazakhstan that signed a cooperation memorandum with NCIE in February 2023. Directly comparable as a state-led national innovation and entrepreneurship support agency serving SMEs and researchers in a CIS country.
• Enterprise Armenia: National Center Foundation linked to NCIE's website, focused on business development, investment promotion and SME support in Armenia. Directly comparable as a sister national agency supporting business formation and growth in the same Armenian market.
• Enterprise Incubator Fund (EIF Armenia): Armenian government-backed fund providing financial and capacity-building support to SMEs and startups. Directly comparable in target market (Armenian SMEs) and overlapping mandate of government-supported entrepreneurship development.
• Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA): Georgian state agency for innovation and technology, partnered with NCIE on technology transfer experience sharing. Directly comparable as a regional peer offering similar SME, technology transfer, and innovation support services in the Caucasus.

Emerging players

• Impact Hub Yerevan: Armenian branch of the global Impact Hub network, providing co-working, incubation and entrepreneurship programs. Comparable as an entrepreneurship support player in the Armenian market, though privately run and focused on startup acceleration rather than national policy programs.
• TUMO Centers: Armenian educational innovation network offering free creative technology learning to teens and adults. Comparable as a national innovation-education platform, though focused on learning rather than SME/technology transfer services.
• Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST): Armenian philanthropic foundation funding science and technology initiatives. Comparable in mission to bridge science and entrepreneurship in Armenia, though privately funded and focused on grant-making rather than full government program delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nciearmenia
• Facebookfacebook.com/ncie.official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ncie-armenia
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncie.official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia