Gurgen Mardoyan, Head of PMI Science R&D Center Armenia, sat down with the Regional Post to talk about the country’s potential to scale up success in science and engineering, as well as the challenges faced by the field.
Interview : Arshak Tovmasyan Photo : PMI
You have stepped into this role at an exciting time. How do your experiences and vision shape your approach to leading the Armenian R&D Center?
— My journey as an engineer and a leader of technical teams of electronics, mechanical, software, and firmware engineers, has prepared me well for this role at the PMI Armenia R&D. At PMI, we work with an even broader range of disciplines, including chemistry, material science, data science, and AI. This diversity is key to driving innovation and solving complex challenges. I’m focused on creating a collaborative environment where cross-functional and multidisciplinary projects are the norm. My vision is to foster a space where innovation thrives, leveraging our collective expertise to develop cutting-edge solutions and drive technology forward.
What goals or priorities have you set for yourself in this role, especially given Armenia’s evolving investment landscape and scientific community?
— Given Armenia’s evolving investment landscape and its strong engineering, IT, and scientific communities, my primary goal is to harness this potential more effectively. PMI is not a closed system; we actively engage with external partners to bring in fresh ideas and tackle challenges that benefit from diverse expertise. There are numerous opportunities to explore, and my priority is to initiate and execute more high-impact projects from Armenia that significantly contribute to PMI’s business. By leveraging local expertise and fostering collaboration, we can drive innovation and make a substantial impact.
My vision is to foster a space where innovation thrives, leveraging our collective expertise to develop cutting-edge solutions and drive technology forward.
How has the center’s mission evolved since its inception, and what are its key goals today?
— Since its inception, the mission of the Armenian R&D Center has evolved significantly. Initially, our focus was on finding the right model for our setup and identifying the key scientific and engineering disciplines that could bring the most value. Today, we have largely settled on these aspects and have established a few key directions where our contributions are most impactful to PMI’s business. Our current goals are to leverage these established directions to drive innovation and deliver high-impact projects that align with PMI’s strategic objectives.
What are the main areas in which the center operates?
— The Armenian R&D Center operates in three main areas: the Mathematical Center of Excellence (CoE), Experimental Engineering, and Innovation Management.
The Mathematical CoE is our largest group, focusing on Data Science, Data Engineering, Mathematical and AI models, Statistics, and Analytics. This team provides critical insights to many organizations within PMI and develops new tools used across the company.
The Experimental Engineering team works on the early phases of innovation, exploring new ideas, building prototypes, and testing them. They collaborate with numerous scientific and engineering partners in Armenia to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
The Innovation Management team is dedicated to bringing fresh ideas from the scientific community into PMI. They connect Armenia R&D with partners worldwide to tackle the most complex challenges, ensuring that our center remains at the forefront of innovation.
The PMI R&D Center in Armenia is a success story for foreign investment. What factors contributed to this success, and how can it serve as a model for other international companies?
— The success of the PMI R&D Center in Armenia is due to several key factors: an agile and rich environment, top talent eager to seize opportunities, and strong engineering, scientific, and IT ecosystems. Establishing a small engineering team requires political will, but the dynamic environment and the strong will of the people drive the rest. This model demonstrates how leveraging local talent and ecosystems can lead to significant growth and innovation for international companies. When discussing the influx of international companies, it is evident that the presence of multinational corporations in Armenia significantly enhances the likelihood of attracting further investments. The establishment of these companies signals a stable legislative environment, sustainable business practices, and a highly qualified talent pool. This, in turn, creates a more attractive and conducive atmosphere for additional multinational enterprises to consider Armenia as a viable investment destination.
What advantages does the establishment of this center bring to Armenia, the region, and PMI?
— The establishment of the PMI R&D Center in Armenia brings several advantages to Armenia, the region, and PMI. For Armenia and the region, it opens up numerous opportunities for the local scientific, engineering, and IT communities to contribute their ideas and efforts, fostering innovation and growth. For PMI, it leverages Armenia’s dynamic and rich environment, tapping into top talent and strong ecosystems in engineering, science, and IT. This collaboration not only enhances PMI’s capabilities but also supports its transformation towards a smoke-free future, integrating high-tech solutions into its product offerings while remaining a leader in the FMCG industry.
PMI’s decision to establish operations in Armenia represented a major foreign direct investment. In your view, what does this experience tell other potential investors about Armenia’s business environment and investment climate? Also, how can we make it more attractive?
— PMI’s decision to invest in Armenia highlights the country’s strong potential for foreign direct investment. Armenia offers a dynamic environment with top talent in engineering, IT, and science, eager to innovate. This experience demonstrates that Armenia’s business climate is conducive to investment, supported by a skilled workforce and a welcoming government. To make it even more attractive for high-tech investments, improving the logistics for sourcing components and materials, as well as exporting physical prototype units, will significantly enhance the high-tech segment. This will also support PMI’s efforts to conduct quick and agile experimentations, further boosting innovation and development.
PMI’s decision to invest in Armenia highlights the country’s strong potential for foreign direct investment. Armenia offers a dynamic environment with top talent in engineering, IT, and science, eager to innovate.
PMI’s grants and research funding significantly contribute to Armenia’s scientific ecosystem. Why are these investments important for PMI, and what are the primary directions?
— These investments drive innovation and support high-tech solutions, aligning with PMI’s strategic goals. By fostering a strong scientific community, PMI leverages local expertise and fresh ideas, enhancing its R&D capabilities. The primary directions are ecosystem development projects, which create new capabilities, and scientific projects, which utilize these capabilities to bring direct value to PMI. Together, these investments strengthen Armenia’s scientific ecosystem and significantly contribute to PMI’s innovation efforts.
Looking ahead, how do you envision the center’s role within Armenia’s scientific community and its broader potential in the region?
— I envision the Armenian R&D Center playing a pivotal role within Armenia’s scientific community and the broader region. The center will continue to foster innovation by leveraging local talent and expertise, driving high-impact projects that contribute to PMI’s strategic goals. By collaborating closely with local universities, research institutions, and industry partners, the center can help elevate Armenia’s status as a hub for scientific and technological advancement.
What are the primary challenges the center has encountered in Armenia?
— The primary challenge is keeping up to fast iteration speed requirements for experimentation and prototyping which are limited by logistics. Additionally, while Armenia has a strong talent pool, there is always the challenge of continuously developing and retaining top talent in a competitive global market. Building and maintaining robust partnerships with local universities, research institutions, and industry players also requires ongoing effort and collaboration. Despite these challenges, the dynamic environment and strong will of the local community have been instrumental in overcoming obstacles and driving innovation.
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