YEREVAN. - The Microsoft innovation center will open in Armenia on May 11, Director of the Microsoft office in Armenia Grigor Barseghyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The opening ceremony will bring together regional director of the company and guests from the leading companies.

The center will be operating at the State Architectural University and occupy an area of 500 sq. meters. The territory was chosen to make the center closer to the students.

“Innovation center will be free of charge and open to all. Employees of the IT companies and independent experts can participate in center’s activities,” he added.

Barseghyan noted that business development, management, marketing and other disciplines will be taught to contribute to development of the present companies and creation of new ones. According to him, technological solutions of Microsoft, as well as other leading IT companies will be presented in the center.

The Microsoft innovation center is created as a result of cooperation of the Armenian government, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Enterprise Incubator Foundation, and Microsoft Armenia. The project is estimated at $2.5 million. According to Grigor Barseghyan, the project will be financed for 3 years, later it will pay its way.

Microsoft has over 80 innovation centers in more than 80 countries, whereas the created center is first in the South Caucasus.